Geographic Variation in Morphology between Two Groups of Rana Luteiventris in Western Montana

Abstract

I examined geographic variation in the morphology of a species of the western spotted frog, Rana luteiventris. This study focuses on an area of the spotted frog range in Montana that has not been studied extensively. Eleven different measurements for shape from two geographically isolated groups of spotted frogs were made and analyzed using Discriminant Function Analysis. The results show that geographic variation does occur and that the two groups can be distinguished from one another by using morphological measurements. Environmental and genetic factors are two possible sources of this variation. Further investigation into the spotted frogs of this area could reveal more information into the patterns and mechanisms responsible for the observed results.