Effects of landscape characteristics on amphibian distribution in a forest-dominated landscape

We investigated the influence of landscape and wetland characteristics on pond-breeding amphibian assemblages in south-central New Hampshire, a relatively low populated and heavily forested region of the northeastern United States. This allowed us to better understand landscape influences in less di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological conservation 2005-05, Vol.123 (2), p.139-149
Main Authors: Herrmann, H.L., Babbitt, K.J., Baber, M.J., Congalton, R.G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Anurans
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Buffers
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydroperiod
Landscape ecology
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
Salamanders
Wetlands
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Summary:We investigated the influence of landscape and wetland characteristics on pond-breeding amphibian assemblages in south-central New Hampshire, a relatively low populated and heavily forested region of the northeastern United States. This allowed us to better understand landscape influences in less disturbed areas, and to determine critical landscape disturbance thresholds, above which amphibians are negatively impacted. We sampled 61 wetlands for larval amphibians in 1998 and 1999 to examine the influence of forest cover and road density (at seven buffer distances between 100 and 2000 m) and wetland characteristics on larval amphibian assemblages. Assemblages were influenced primarily by forest cover and wetland hydroperiod. Species richness was most strongly influenced by the proportion of forest cover within 1000 m of the wetland. Several species were also influenced by forest cover, but were differentially influenced by buffer widths. Our study suggests that, at least in the northeast US, wetlands with
ISSN:0006-3207
1873-2917
DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2004.05.025