State Wildlife Grant - T-58-R
| Project Overview | |
|---|---|
| Project Title |
Assessment of American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) and Canadian Toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys) Population in eastern North Dakota: Is North Dakota a Hybrid Zone?
|
| Target Species |
American Toad and Canadian Toad
|
| Timeline |
April 2023 – June 2024
|
| Investigators |
Dr. Matthew T. Smith, North Dakota State University
|
Project Description
North Dakota lists the Canadian Toad as a Species of Conservation Priority.
Recent amphibian surveys in eastern ND found that while Canadian Toads were only found in half of the surveyed counties, it was often abundant in those counties.
American Toads are often mistaken for Canadian Toads and may have skewed historical data we have on these two species.
During the previously mentioned amphibian surveys, American Toads were found in a single ND county but only 3 individuals were captured over the three-year study period.
The most recent data suggest that American Toads may be experiencing rapid population declines and, ostensibly, local extirpation while Canadian Toads may be experiencing a range reduction but are maintaining abundant source populations within that range.
This project will intensively survey for American Toads in eastern North Dakota to determine if they are extirpated from the state, determine key habitat characteristics for American Toads if they are found to be present at sites, and determine if hybridization with Canadian Toads has occurred in North Dakota and could have contributed to their decline.