Leopard frogs have raised these conservation questions since the discovery of three distinct species – Rana kauffeldi, the Atlantic Coast leopard frog; R. sphenocephala, the southern leopard frog; and R. pipiens, the northern leopard frog. The Research Foundation for the State University of New York conducted field work in 2014 and 2015 to determine which leopard frog species occurred presently and historically in 10 eastern states. The project also mapped new ranges for the congenic species, assessed the congenic species conservation status, and contrasted differences in habitat associations. In addition, researchers improved the acoustic and morphological field markers for inventorying, monitoring and assessing new species.

The study was conducted in the northeastern portion of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, from southern New York and Massachusetts to northern North Carolina. Call and visual surveys were used to identify populations of each species, and tissue samples were taken for genetic analysis. The sampling resulted in the identification of 111 R. kauffeldi, 79 R. sphenocelphala, and 72 R. pipiens. Analysis of the study focused on R. kauffeldi, though the results provide specific habitat management considerations by species, with important differences in management by location. R. kauffeldi was confirmed in eight eastern states (CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA and NC), though the species has disappeared from much of its historical range in NY and CT. For the full study, please visit the project page on RCNgrants.org.