Natural History of the Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) in the Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois

Abstract

I studied several aspects of the natural history and population biology of R. sylvatica in the Shawnee National Forest (SNF) between 1993 and 1997. The primary objective was to conduct the first extensive study of this species in Illinois. The first portion of this study documented the distribution of R. sylvatica in the SNF. Observations of general aspects of natural history (predation, amphibian community associates, and larval period) were also recorded. I then identified and qualitatively characterized types of breeding ponds and woodland habitats in which the species occurs, and recorded the phenology of breeding activity and weather conditions at which they occurred. I then used skeletochronology to estimate individual ages of wood frogs, and compared statistical correlations between age and body length of individuals and female age and body length with clutch size and ovum size.