TY - JOUR
T1 - Amphibian and reptile communities associated with beaver (castor canadensis) ponds and unimpounded streams in the piedmont of south carolina
AU - Russell, Kevin R.
AU - Moorman, Christopher E.
AU - Edwards, J. Kenneth
AU - Metts, Brian S.
AU - Guynn, David C.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this project was provided by the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Rtsearch Program and the Clemson University Department of Forest Resources. We thank B. Carmichael, R. Davis, W. Gatlin, and R. Myers for assistance with the field work. We also thank H. G. Hanlin, J. D. Lanham, J. A. Kawatski, and two anonymous reviewers for critical comments that significantly improved the manuscript.
PY - 1999/6
Y1 - 1999/6
N2 - We used drift fence arrays with pitfall traps to compare amphibian and reptile assemblages at the peripheries of beaver (Castor canadensis) ponds of two age-classes (“new”: ≤ 5 yr old, and “old”: ≥ 10 yr old) and unimpounded streams in the Piedmont of South Carolina. The richness and total abundance of amphibians were not significantly different among new beaver ponds, old beaver ponds, and unimpounded streams, although several species of anurans were captured predominantly or exclusively at beaver ponds. Amphibian community overlap and diversity also were similar among the three habitats. In contrast, the richness and total abundance of reptiles were significantly higher at old beaver ponds when compared to new beaver ponds and unimpounded streams. The degree of reptile community overlap also was relatively low, with significant differences in diversity among all three habitats. Differences in amphibian and reptile community attributes between beaver ponds and unimpounded streams likely were related to the lentic or lotic habitat requirements of individual species and the effects of beaver impoundments on surrounding upland habitats.
AB - We used drift fence arrays with pitfall traps to compare amphibian and reptile assemblages at the peripheries of beaver (Castor canadensis) ponds of two age-classes (“new”: ≤ 5 yr old, and “old”: ≥ 10 yr old) and unimpounded streams in the Piedmont of South Carolina. The richness and total abundance of amphibians were not significantly different among new beaver ponds, old beaver ponds, and unimpounded streams, although several species of anurans were captured predominantly or exclusively at beaver ponds. Amphibian community overlap and diversity also were similar among the three habitats. In contrast, the richness and total abundance of reptiles were significantly higher at old beaver ponds when compared to new beaver ponds and unimpounded streams. The degree of reptile community overlap also was relatively low, with significant differences in diversity among all three habitats. Differences in amphibian and reptile community attributes between beaver ponds and unimpounded streams likely were related to the lentic or lotic habitat requirements of individual species and the effects of beaver impoundments on surrounding upland habitats.
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U2 - 10.1080/02705060.1999.9663666
DO - 10.1080/02705060.1999.9663666
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032987050
SN - 0270-5060
VL - 14
SP - 149
EP - 158
JO - Journal of Freshwater Ecology
JF - Journal of Freshwater Ecology
IS - 2
ER -