Relationship of pool breeding amphibian diversity and local and landscape forest cover around temporary wetlands in northern Alabama

Background/Question/Methods - Few available studies have examined how the interactions of local and landscape habitat conditions affect reproductive success of pool breeding amphibians.  We are currently conducting such a study in northern Alabama at two locations: James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area and William B. Bankhead National Forest.  A total of 24 temporary wetlands were classified to three types based on the amount of canopy cover in the landscape and surrounding the wetlands: open canopy (no trees within 10 meters of the wetland edge), forested (pools surrounded by forests), and perimeter canopy (pools in the open area but surrounded by canopy trees).  Biweekly, we sampled amphibians and measured for dissolved oxygen, water pH, soil and water temperature, and the amount of canopy cover at each pool.  We have also measured pool area and depth.  A geographic information system and remote sensing techniques were used to quantify the terrestrial habitat surrounding the wetlands, and estimate the degree of habitat alteration surrounding the breeding pool. 

Results/Conclusions - During the first 18 months of this study, we detected a total of 20,036 individuals of 13 species.  The most abundant species was Eastern Spadefoot (Schaphiopus holbrookii), which occurred at 25% of the pools.  Some species occurred only in a few pools.    Amphibian diversity and richness varied by the wetland types, with open wetlands supporting more hylid species, and forested wetlands with more ambystomatid species.  Biophysical conditions also differed among wetland types, with open wetlands having higher dissolved oxygen and water pH than perimeter canopy and forested wetlands.