Spatial Interactions between Two Species of Frogs: Rana okaloosae and R. clamitans clamitans

Abstract

Rana okaloosae is endemic to northwestern Florida and is sympatric with R. clamitans clamitans, its closest relative and possibly its main interspecific competitor. We evaluated the movements, dynamic interactions, and nearest neighbor distances of male R. okaloosae and R. c. clamitans in Okaloosa County, Florida. Mean minimum daily distances moved and maximum daily distances moved were greater for R. c. clamitans than R. okaloosae. Dynamic interactions tended to be positive and suggested that there were positive associations between individuals of the two species. Further, nearest neighbor analyses suggested that calling males of both species were positioned in a clumped distribution on any single night. The intraspecific and interspecific interactions of these species were complex and suggested that these species may have selected similar calling locations and appeared not to exclude either conspecifics or heterospecifics.