Newswise — Jessica Claudio, a fifth-year intern at UF, will be looking at a lot of little toad toes this summer.
Claudio is working this summer with Terry Schwaner, Ph.D., dean of the College of Sciences, on a project that stems from years of research by Schwaner and Brian Sullivan, Ph.D., professor of biology and mathematics at Arizona State University (West).
Recently, Schwaner drove to Phoenix, Ariz., to pick up 400 samples of toad tissue, packed in 50 pounds of dry ice, from Sullivan, an evolutionary biologist and herpetological colleague of Schwaner's.
More than 10 years ago, Schwaner and Sullivan began coordinating research on two different toad species: Woodhouse's toad and the Arizona toad. Schwaner studied both species in the Virgin River system of Utah, and Sullivan conducted similar studies along the Agua Fria River, north of Phoenix.
In each case, the toads were hybridizing — mating with members of the other species. Anywhere human disturbance was happening, such as a dam being built, the Woodhouse's toad appeared in the Arizona toad's habitat, and the two hybridized.
Habitat disturbance often leads to the breakdown of ecological barriers, which results in hybridization and eventually the decline or extinction of the original species.
When hybridization occurs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relies on information from researchers such as Schwaner and Sullivan to help develop a conservation plan.
Seeing the opportunity to complete valuable research and involve undergraduate students in the process prompted Schwaner to contact Sullivan, whom he had never met in person until recently.
Schwaner also contacted Jennifer Wooten, Ph.D., who will begin teaching biology at UF this fall, to involve her in the project. Prior to Schwaner's road trip to Arizona, Wooten traveled from Columbus to Findlay to conduct a test run with technology already available in UF's laboratories to make sure the toad DNA could be isolated using the samples from Sullivan.
The test worked, and Sullivan released the toad samples to Schwaner to be studied at UF. The samples consist of vials of preserved toad toes as well as frozen tissue.
Many of the samples had been collected by Sullivan over the past two decades. Schwaner assisted in collecting additional samples during his recent trip to Arizona. The researchers visited approximately 20 sites near the river, where they caught toads, determined if each was a Woodhouse's, Arizona or hybrid toad using a 12-point scoring system and collected toe clippings " releasing the frogs back into their habitat.
Now that the samples are on campus, Schwaner and Claudio will isolate the DNA in each sample and record the genetic data so that it can be analyzed. Wooten will join them in the fall.
The work is similar to what students would be doing in graduate school or in a full-time career, said Schwaner, who believes that students learn better when they are actively engaged in the process.
Schwaner said an additional benefit is the opportunity for faculty members to engage with students as mentors and also for faculty to complete research and scholarly activity.
A high-resolution photo of Dr. Schwaner and Jessica Claudio is available.
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