Wildlife Diversity Webinar Series | Population genetics of the Crawfish Frog

The Crawfish Frog is associated with prairie habitats, which are rapidly being lost due to human activities. Populations of this species have declined in areas where these habitats have been lost. Habitat fragmentation can result in reduced demographic connectivity and loss of genetic diversity, further imperiling the species. The population genetic structure of the Crawfish Frog has not been investigated in Texas or regionally. We addressed four research objectives: (1) to determine if there is population subdivision within Texas, (2) to determine if Texas populations are unique from those in other states, (3) to determine the levels of genetic diversity within populations, and (4) re-evaluate the conservation status rank for this species in Texas.