Doyle L. Crosswhite, Stanley F. Fox, and Ronald E. Thill
Crosswhite, Assistant Professor, Division of Science, St. Gregory's University, 1900 W. MacArthur, Shawnee, OK 74804; Fox, Professor, Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078; and Thill, Supervisory Research Wildlife Biologist, Southern Research Station, Box 7600 SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Abstract--We studied habitat relationships of the herpetofauna inhabiting managed pine-oak woodlands of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas. We used drift fence arrays with pitfall and double-ended funnel traps to sample two replications each of three treatments: young clearcuts, selectively harvested stands, and late-rotation untreated controls. Our objectives were to compare herpetofaunal communities among these treatments and to quantify habitat relationships. Ninety-one days of trapping over two field seasons yielded 633 captures representing 35 species. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that species composition differed significantly among treatments. The most distinct separation of species groups was between reptiles and amphibians; reptiles were far more abundant in the young, xeric clearcuts, while amphibians were most abundant in the other two treatments. Four habitat parameters (canopy coverage, litter depth, woody plant cover, and large, woody debris) explained much of the variation in species composition among sample sites. Several species showed clear preferences for particular habitats.
The Impact of Riparian Disturbance on Plethodontid Salamanders at Horsethief Spring, Leflore County, Oklahoma
Doyle L. Crosswhite1, Lance R. Williams2, Marsha G. Williams3, Kyle W. Winters1
1 Division of Science, St. Gregory's University, Shawnee, OK 74801
2 Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
3 Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
We studied the impact of renovations at Horsetheif Spring Park on plethodontid salamanders. Renovation occurred in February of 1996 and included: paving the existing parking area, installation of restrooms and picnic tables, reconstruction of a stone wall along the spring source, and the removal of riparian vegetation along the upper 100m of the spring. We studied four species of plethodontid salamanders that occur at Horsethief Spring: Desmognathus brimleyorum; Plethodon ouachitae; Plethodon serratus; and Eurycea multiplicata. Horsethief spring is located in the Ouachita National Forest on the north slope of Winding Stair Mountain east of Talahina, Oklahoma. The habitat is predominately a closed canopy, deciduous woodlands. Samples were collected at 27 lateral transects beginning 100m below the spring source and continuing for approximately 250m down stream. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) show that P. serratus and E. mulriplicata were associated with the percentage of the plot covered by water and stream width. Plethodon ouchitae is associated with greater canopy cover, larger substrate size, and higher water temperature. Plethodon serratus and D. brimleyorum show a intermediate affiliation. Species abundance data suggests that the population of D. brimleyorum below Horsetheif Spring has declined considerably since the renovations.
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