Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Date of Award

Spring 4-20-2026

Document Type

Honors Paper

Degree Name

Zoo and Conservation Science-BS

Department

Biology & Earth Science

Advisor

Dr. Sarah Bouchard

First Committee Member

Dr. Sarah Bouchard

Second Committee Member

Dr. Bennett Grooms

Third Committee Member

Dr. Deborah Solomon

Keywords

Tadpoles, Turtles, Predator Chemical Cues, Animal Behavior, Non-native Predator, Anti-predation Response, Anuran

Subject Categories

Higher Education | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Abstract

In this study, I investigated the ability of two Ohio Anuran tadpole species, American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) and Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), to respond to predator semiochemical cues from the native midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) and the non-native Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). To do this, I exposed ten tadpoles from each anuran species to chemical cues collected from a Midland Painted Turtle, Red-eared Slider, and danio zebrafish (Danio rerio) and recorded their behavior before and after cue exposure. I used ToxTrac, an animal behavior video analysis software, to analyze tadpole behaviors including speed, acceleration, exploration rate, distance traveled, and time spent frozen. When comparing activity before and after cue exposure, I found A. americanus tadpoles had a clear response to painted turtle cue by decreasing activity, had a slight response to zebrafish cue, and no statistically significant response to Red-eared Slider cue. P. crucifer tadpoles had little to no significant response to all three cue types. These results indicate that P. crucifer failed to respond to either Red-eared Slider or Midland Painted Turtle cue with clear anti predation strategies, and further studies are needed to determine their overall vulnerability to predation risk from these turtles. Additionally, A. americanus may be more vulnerable to predation risk by the non-native Red-eared Slider as they were unable to recognize and respond with a clear anti-predation response. This higher predation risk combined with the already increasing threats anurans are facing could lead to potential population declines as Red-eared Sliders continue to expand their ranges unchecked.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

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