An Evaluation of Northern Leopard Frog Populations in North Dakota (SWG T2-12-R)

The Northern leopard frog has recently drawn considerable attention due to its decline throughout historical ranges. In response to this decline, on June 30th, 2009, the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a request for scientific information to help determine if federal protection of this species is warranted. The status of the leopard frog in North Dakota is not well known, but recent work suggests that large populations of this species persist in central North Dakota. These inferences are drawn from high levels of genetic diversity found within and among populations of northern leopard frogs, in Stutsman County, in the Prairie Coteau region of North Dakota. The primary goal is to describe the genetic variation within and among populations of northern leopard frogs in North Dakota to assess population size and stability.