Study looks at impact of spring flooding on canyon tree frogs

by Scott Bordow, Arizona State University
March 14, 2024

The life history of a canyon tree frog—a species of tree frog that can be found in the rocky plateau areas of Arizona—may not seem significant to the average person.

But Heather Bateman, a professor in Arizona State University’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, sees it differently.

“There’s so many myths about these organisms, like they’re not very interesting or worthy (of study),” said Bateman, who is also a senior Global Futures scientist. “Anything I can do to dispel that is my mission.”

That’s one reason Bateman, along with student researcher and alumni Maggie Huck, who graduated last December with a master’s degree in applied biological sciences in the School of Applied Sciences and Arts, co-authored an article focusing on amphibian breeding—specifically the canyon tree frog (Hyla arenicolor)—as it relates to stream flow, habitat structure and sustaining biodiversity.

The species is known to be vulnerable to climate change and other habitat changes, so understanding its mating habits demonstrates the important connection between hydrology and biology.

ASU News talked to Bateman about the paper, which was recently published in the journal Ecology, to learn more about its implications.

Keep reading: https://news.asu.edu/20240315-environment-and-sustainability-study-looks-impact-spring-flooding-canyon-tree-frogs

Read the Ecology paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.4287