2026-09-18T18:26:06Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/122174 2024-03-02 col_2142_5131 col_2142_16341 com_2142_5130 com_2142_8913 com_2142_8903

Fischer, Eva K Hutchins Sperry, Jinelle Suarez, Andrew V 2023-12 application/pdf en text Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2025-12-01 The student, Katharina Soto, accepted the attached license on 2023-12-05 at 12:01. The student, Katharina Soto, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2023-12-05 at 12:08. This Thesis was approved for publication on 2023-12-06 at 09:32. DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #20140 on 2024-03-01 at 13:32:40 Integrative approaches in amphibian ecology: Implications for behavioral and invasive species research Soto, Katharina Michelle Amphibians Ecology Personality Behavioral Syndromes Conservation 2023-12-06 Amphibians play a crucial role in ecosystem health, but human-induced factors, including habitat degradation, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, have led to significant declines in amphibian populations. To address these complex challenges in the Anthropocene era, an integrative approach to amphibian ecology is necessary. While genetic, physiological, and ecological research are foundational, amphibian behavior also plays a pivotal role in their survival and population dynamics. In my thesis, I demonstrate the importance of adopting an integrated methodology in amphibian behavior research through two separate studies. The first study investigated the presence of individual behavioral variation in captive-bred poison frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius) across various experimental, temporal, and environmental contexts. I found widespread repeatability of activity and exploratory behaviors, as well as strong correlations between them. Additionally, my findings revealed the context-dependent nature of repeatability in measures of boldness. These results emphasize the importance of using iterative and multi-context approaches when assessing behavior. The second study examined how both behavior and physiology contribute to the invasive success of Eleutherodactylus coquí. In the field, I noted density-dependent behavioral variations influenced by elevational gradients. I also observed plastic responses after introducing frogs to a novel environment, with all frogs reducing activity, exploration, and boldness in the lab as compared to the field. Lastly, I found correlations within and between activity, exploration, and physiology (resting metabolic rate). These results emphasize the need to consider behavior, alongside abiotic and biotic influences, to understand the expansion and persistence of invasive species. Taken together, my work underscores the importance of a multifaceted, integrative approach that considers behavior, physiology, genetics, and the environment to comprehensively understand amphibian ecology in a changing world. Text eng https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122174 Copyright 2023 Katharina Soto M.S. Thesis Ecol, Evol, Conservation Biol University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Integrative Biology