Rana berlandieri: Recently Introduced Populations in Arizona and Southeastern California

Dispersal and the metapopulation paradigm in amphibian ecology and conservation: are all amphibian populations metapopulations?

“…Rather, the power relationship demonstrates that, as a group, amphibians exhibit a wide range of dispersal strategies. As has been demonstrated (Stumpel and Hanekamp 1986, Platx et al 1990, Tunner 1992, Vos et al 2000, Hayes et al 2001, Smith 2003), some amphibian species are capable of movements that are surprising for presumably poorly dispersing animals. Our review suggests that anurans have an average maximum movement recorded (2.02 km) that is two times as large as the distance commonly reported as wide enough to result in population isolation.…”

A review of the introduced herpetofauna of Mexico and Central America, with comments on the effects of invasive species and biosecurity methodology

“…Photographic evidence of this species near San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, was reported by Rorabaugh and Servoss (2006) from a concrete-lined ditch passing through an agricultural field. The invasion front originated somewhere in southwestern Arizona where the Colorado and Gila rivers meet, which is the same area where L. berlandieri was collected in a survey in 1981 (Platz et al 1990). The most probable act of introduction into Mexico was not a single event, but rather a secondary effect of several fish transplant operations into the Yuma, Arizona region from New Mexico in the late 1960's or early 1970's (Platz et al 1990).…”

Life history of the Rio Grande leopard frog (Lithobates berlandieri) in Texas

“…The Rio Grande leopard frog (Anura: Ranidae: Lithobates berlandieri Baird, 1859) ranges from the extreme southern border of New Mexico to central Texas, USA, and south, mostly along the gulf coast, to the Mexican states of Hidalgo and Veracruz (Platts 1991;Degenhardt et al 1996;Stebbins 2003;Santos-Barrera et al 2010;Tipton et al 2012;Dixon 2013;Powell et al 2016;Frost 2018). Introduced populations of the Rio Grande leopard frog occur in several areas of North America, including expanding populations in Arizona, California, and Utah (USA: Clarkson and Rorabaugh 1989;Platz et al 1990;Rorabaugh et al 2002;Brennan and Holycross 2006;Stebbins and McGinnis 2012) and well-established populations in river drainages from Baja California and Sonora (México: Rorabaugh 2008;Kraus 2009). The distribution of L. berlandieri in Texas spans from El Paso to Dallas and south to Brownsville (type locality [see Frost 2018]), where it can be found in a range of habitats from deserts to woodlands in association with generally clear waterways, including rivers, springs, and canals, but also temporary tanks (Axtell 1959;Jung et al 2002;Santos-Barrera et al 2010;Tipton et al 2012;Dixon 2013;Davis and LaDuc 2018).…”

“…The broad geographic range of L. berlandieri and its complex evolutionary history in the L. pipiens group that readily hybridizes with related species (Mecham 1969;Hillis 1988), has prompted its inclusion in numerous studies into its phylogenetic position and extent of intergradation with conspecifics (e.g., Hillis 1981Hillis , 1982Frost and Platz 1983;Hillis et al 1983; Riverón et al 2004). Moreover, introductions of L. berlandieri outside its native range have been well-documented and those populations remain closely followed (Platz 1990;Clarkson and Rorabaugh 1989;Rorabaugh et al 2002;Rorabaugh 2008;Kraus 2009). Studies focused on natural-history aspects of L. berlandieri, however, are rare throughout the species' natural range, with few exceptions (e.g., Jung et al 2002;Parker and Goldstein 2004).…”

“…Studies focused on natural-history aspects of L. berlandieri, however, are rare throughout the species' natural range, with few exceptions (e.g., Jung et al 2002;Parker and Goldstein 2004). Given the numerous studies of L. berlandieri, it is curious that we know essentially nothing about its basic life history, demography, or population biology beyond assumed parallels to other leopard frog species (Platz 1991;Degenhardt et al 1996;Tipton et al 2012). For example, we currently lack a reported clutch or egg size for L. berlandieri (Rorabaugh 2005;Dodd 2013).…”