Influence of riparian buffers and habitat characteristics on salamander assemblages in headwater streams within managed forests

Guzy, Jacquelyn C.; Halloran, Kelly M.; Homyack, Jessica A.; Willson, John D.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.006

Cited by 9 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Salamander species richness at study sites with the widest SMZs was driven by uncommon species (e.g., P. caddoensis , A. annulatum , A. maculatum , A. opacum , H. scutatum , and S. intermedia ) with low overall occupancy and specific habitat requirements (i.e., wetlands, rock talus) likely only present within wider SMZs (Guzy et al. ). Conversely, most reptiles are less sensitive to environmental disturbances that modify temperature and humidity, and many lizard and snake species in our study area are habitat generalists or use edges and early‐successional vegetation for foraging and thermoregulation (Ross et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, while occupancy of only one salamander species ( E. multiplicata ) was not strongly influenced by wider SMZs (Guzy et al. ), several anurans ( H. chrysoscelis , P. fouquettei , L. sphenocephalus , L. clamitans ) exhibited high probability of occupancy (~0.5–0.75) at sites with very narrow SMZs. Unlike salamanders, some anuran species may be considered early successional or edge species during reproduction (e.g., treefrogs, chorus, toads, and leopard frogs; Lannoo ) because eggs and larva can benefit from increased temperature and primary productivity in open‐canopy aquatic conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For more information on extended analyses controlling for survey area, see Guzy et al. (). We surveyed each site four times and each survey occurred over a different 15‐m stream transect, proceeding upstream from the previous transect.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our indicator of the amount of upland cover objects, “upland cover score,” was determined during each 10‐min upland survey and consisted of a 1 to 5 scale (i.e., few to many natural cover objects; see Guzy et al. for more details). We visually estimated SMZ overstory composition: “pine” sites were > 75% pine basal area, “mixed” sites were 25–75% pine, “deciduous” sites were < 25% pine, and “no SMZ” sites contained no overstory.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Guzy et al. ), few have addressed whether SMZs support occupancy of reptiles or semi‐aquatic and upland amphibians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential responses of amphibian and reptile assemblages to size of riparian buffers within managed forests

Guzy

Halloran

Homyack

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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2019. Differential responses of amphibian and reptile assemblages to size of riparian buffers within managed forests. Ecological Applications 29(8):Abstract. Streamside management zones (i.e., riparian buffers; SMZs) are commonly implemented within managed forests to protect water quality but may also provide habitat for riparian-associated wildlife. Yet, little research has rigorously addressed the value of SMZs for wildlife, particularly for cryptic species such as amphibians and reptiles. Previous studies of herpetofauna within SMZs have focused on one or a few stream-associated species, and questions remain regarding variation among species or guilds and what role SMZs serve toward conservation of herpetofaunal diversity in managed forests. However, recent statistical advances have improved our ability to analyze large multi-species presence-absence data sets, accounting for low detection rates typical for some herpetofaunal species. Our study represents an extensive landscape-scale examination of herpetofaunal communities within SMZs using a multi-species occupancy approach. We conducted four replicate surveys at 102 headwater streams, spanning a gradient of SMZ widths and adjacent forest stand ages, within the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA. We used a hierarchical Bayesian community occupancy model to estimate species richness and species-specific occupancy responses to SMZ and overstory characteristics, accounting for variation in occupancy and detection attributable to site and sampling covariates. We documented high richness (37 species) within SMZs. Across the herpetofaunal community, occupancy and species richness were consistently positively associated with SMZ width, with maximum predicted richness of 30 species occurring at sites with buffers extending 51 m on either side of the stream. However, we documented considerable variation among groups and species within groups, underscoring the potential for different responses to forest management among taxa. Reptile predicted richness increased more rapidly up to SMZs of~35 m, whereas maximum salamander predicted richness was not seen until an SMZ width of 55 m. Estimated salamander richness was highest within SMZs embedded in mature managed pine stands and was higher in SMZs comprised of a deciduous or mixed overstory vs. a pine overstory. Compared to salamanders, more anuran species showed high mean estimated occupancy (>75%) at narrower SMZs (<30 m). Collectively, our results indicate that SMZs surrounding small first-order streams in intensively managed forests not only protect water quality, but also can support diverse amphibian and reptile communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Guzy et al. ), few have addressed whether SMZs support occupancy of reptiles or semi‐aquatic and upland amphibians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential responses of amphibian and reptile assemblages to size of riparian buffers within managed forests

Guzy

Halloran

Homyack

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Increased growth rates of stream salamanders following forest harvesting

Guzy

Halstead

Halloran

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Effects of timber harvest on survival and movement of stream salamanders in a managed forest landscape

et al. 2021

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With escalating anthropogenic alteration of landscapes worldwide, managed forests are increasingly important as providers of ecosystem services and wildlife habitat. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a balance between producing forest products and biodiversity conservation. Several studies have reported negative effects of forest management on terrestrial plethodontid salamanders, but fewer have focused on stream‐dwelling species or evaluated mechanisms for shifts in their abundance (e.g., mortality vs. movement). We used a before–after–control–impact design to examine the effects of clear‐cut harvesting on a semi‐aquatic stream‐breeding salamander endemic to the Ouachita Mountains, Desmognathus brimleyorum. We conducted a three‐year capture–mark–recapture (CMR) study at three streams within a managed pine (Pinus spp.) landscape in west‐central Arkansas, USA. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands surrounding two of the streams were clear‐cut (leaving a 14–21 m wide forested buffer on each side of the stream) midway through the study; the third stream served as a control site and remained unharvested. We estimated apparent survival using open CMR models and compared salamander movement over time and between harvested and control streams. Overall, our models revealed seasonal and temporal variation in salamander survival and abundance, but little evidence for strong immediate effects of timber harvesting on post‐metamorphic salamanders within two years postharvest. However, there was increased salamander movement at sites where forest harvest occurred. Our results suggest that streamside buffers of at least 14–28 m on either side of a stream are effective for minimizing immediate effects of forestry activities on juvenile and adult stream‐dwelling salamanders, when timber harvest occurs in the winter months. These results will inform management decisions aimed at conserving biodiversity and ecosystem integrity in managed forest landscapes while also filling a critical gap in the knowledge of stream salamander demographic parameters.

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Influence of riparian buffers and habitat characteristics on salamander assemblages in headwater streams within managed forests

Cited by 9 publications

References 76 publications

Differential responses of amphibian and reptile assemblages to size of riparian buffers within managed forests

Differential responses of amphibian and reptile assemblages to size of riparian buffers within managed forests

Increased growth rates of stream salamanders following forest harvesting

Effects of timber harvest on survival and movement of stream salamanders in a managed forest landscape

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