Comparison of Health Status of Japanese Tree Frog (Hyla Japonica) in a Rural and an Urban Area

Abstract

Urbanization is a major driver of global amphibian declines. For the study on the effect of urbanization on amphibians, we compared the growth and the health status of Hyla japonica amphibians collected in the urban areas of Incheon and in the rural area of Gapyeong, Korea. The size and weight of Hyla japonica body in the urban area were smaller than those in the rural area. However, there was no significant difference in their condition factors as a health indicator between the two areas. Our study emphasizes the need for research into the specific mechanism of effects of urbanization on amphibian heath status for the further understanding of the relationship between urbanization and amphibians.