The rapid loss of amphibian populations and entire species around the world has become an alarming trend over the past two decades. While many explanations have been suggested for this loss of amphibians, habitat degradation and fragmentation are regarded as the primary cause of the declines. In addition to outright loss of suitable habitat and breeding sites, loss of upland habitat away from breeding ponds may decrease the connectivity among breeding sites, inhibiting the dispersal of individuals migrating between local pond populations. In addition to the simple loss of individuals coming into the population, this loss of gene flow may have other, less conspicuous, effects on the populations.
In my research, I will assess the effects of different types of landscape structure on local and regional amphibian population dynamics. Specifically, I will study how different levels of habitat connectivity influence gene flow, and how, in turn, this gene flow effects population persistence and dynamics in terms of pond occupancy, population densities, and local adaptive traits specific to each sub-population. The ultimate goal of this research will be to refine our understanding of regional amphibian population dynamics in order to design more informed management strategies aimed at reversing current declines.