The Effect of Toe-Clipping on Locomotor Performance and Return Rates in a Frog

Marking methods that do not affect survival are crucial to study anuran demography. Toe-clipping is among the most frequent marking methods in anurans. Nonetheless, the potential effect of toe-clipping on locomotion - and consequently on survival - is controversial. We studied a free-ranging population of Iberian green frogs (Pelophylax perezi) to test whether toe-clipping reduces jumping distance. Also, we compared return rates of frogs identified by toe-clipping and tagging with passive integrated transponders (PITs) after 1 year. We found no effect of toe-clipping on jumping distance, which minimizes the likelihood of toe-clipping diminishing return rates. Accordingly, we detected similar return rates in frogs marked by toe-clipping and PIT-tagging. Both techniques proved similarly efficient, although toe-clipping is cheaper and faster than PIT-tagging.