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Effects of landscape composition and wetland fragmentation on frog and toad abundance and species richness in Iowa and Wisconsin, USA [abstract]

OCLC: 42917615; published as OCLC: 45165303 ; see MERRIAM QL667 .I58 2000, Investigating amphibian declines : proceedings of the 1998 declining amphibians conference
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Abstract

We examined the relationships between anuran diversity and landscape features in the Upper Midwestern United States. Anuran relative abundance and species richness were measured using data collected by Wisconsin and Iowa state calling surveys conducted from 1990-1995. Landscape features surrounding survey points were determined using National Wetland Inventory and Wisconsin Wetland Inventory maps. We tested several hypotheses suggested by the literature. We hypothesized that the relative abundance and species richness of anurans that breed in ephemeral wetlands is positively correlated with the surrounding area of temporary wetlands and emergent wetlands. We hypothesized that the relative abundance and species richness of anurans is positively correlated with patch diversity and wetland edges, in the absence of local fragmentation effects. We hypothesized that the relative abundance and species richness of anurans is positively associated with forests but negatively associated with agriculture and urban areas. Our results show that the interspersion of different wetland types and the concomitant increase in wetland edge habitats were generally positive for frogs and toads and anuran abundance and diversity were generally higher in association with forests, especially forested wetlands. The presence of agriculture did not always depress frog and toad populations or diversity; some species were associated with agricultural landscapes. The two states differed in how anurans were associated with landscape features like lakes and permanent wetlands. We found that frog and toad relative abundance and diversity were lower when urban areas were present. Managers can use models like ours, generated from landscape analyses, along with range maps and population trend analyses to get a comprehensive picture of the health of individual species and groups of species. Our models could be applied to the landscape as a whole, and used to predict species relative abundance and richness at new locations. Our work provides a framework for future experimental and intensive research on specific factors affecting the health of amphibians in the Upper Midwest.
Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Effects of landscape composition and wetland fragmentation on frog and toad abundance and species richness in Iowa and Wisconsin, USA [abstract]
Year Published 1998
Language English
Publisher Milwaukee Public Museum
Publisher location Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 20
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Other Government Series
Larger Work Title Midwest Declining Amphibians Conference, a joint meeting of the Great Lakes and Central Division Working Groups of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force, March 20 & 21, 1998
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