Using eDNA to assess the effects of Sierra Nevada meadow restoration on invasive species and sensitive amphibians
Abstract
American bullfrogs are one of the world's most harmful invasive species due to their rapid global expansion and impacts to native amphibians. They are native to the eastern United States and were introduced to California in the 1850s. They have spread rapidly since then, and they have the potential to move into sensitive habitat for several Threatened and Endangered Sierra Nevada amphibians. The goal of this project was to determine the key drivers of historic American bullfrog expansion in California. Patterns and rates of historic bullfrog spread in the area were examined using publicly available bullfrog records. I used novel hybrid species distribution models that incorporate dispersal to examine the influence of environmental variables on rates and patterns of historic bullfrog spread. I hypothesized that historic American bullfrog spread would mainly be driven by climate limitation, proximity to permanent waterbodies, and/or anthropogenic activity. The results of this project will begin to shed light on the future expansion of American bullfrogs in the Sierra Nevada and will help managers control their potential impacts to sensitive amphibians. This project will also be a good opportunity to better understand the invasion process in general, and the modeling approaches used will be able to aid in the management of other invasive species.
About the Presenter
Nicolette Nelson
Nicolette grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and earned a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation Biology at Humboldt State University. She is currently a M.S. student in the Community Ecology Lab at WSUV. Her research focuses on the mechanisms driving the spread of invasive American bullfrogs in California. Her current project aims to determine whether meadow restoration projects in the Sierra Nevada unintentionally facilitate the spread of American bullfrogs. After defending her thesis in July, Nicolette plans to earn a GIS certificate from the University of Connecticut with the aim of becoming a GIS specialist.