Abstract
Frog populations have been declining worldwide since the 1980s. One major reason for the decline in amphibians is habitat loss. This is one reason why a method to rapidly assess habitat quality is useful; it can determine the quality of a wetland, for example, and provide warning signs of degradation. Wetland rapid assessment methods need to be validated by biological measures, such as the species abundance and species richness of amphibians, to confirm their accuracy. When species identification is difficult based on morphology, a genetic identification technique helps because it improves the accuracy and reliability of species identification. A Species-Specific PCR method was developed for five species of frogs: L. catesbeianus, L. clamitans, L. palustris, L. pipiens, and L. sphenocephalus. The catesbeianus primer worked well at 61°C, the clamitans 1 primer at 56.1°C, and the palustris 2 primer at 58.8°C. This technique worked well for three out of the five species, and this progress means that this technique should be pursued further.
Semester/Year of Award
Spring 2015
Mentor
Stephen C. Richter
Mentor Department Affiliation
Biological Sciences
Access Options
Restricted Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Department
Biological Sciences
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Natasha, "Development of a Genetic Identification Tool for Five Amphibian Species" (2015). Honors Theses. 238.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/238