Estimating occurrence and detection probabilities for stream-breeding salamanders in the Gulf Coastal Plain

Journal of Herpetology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Large gaps exist in our knowledge of the ecology of stream-breeding plethodontid salamanders in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Data describing where these salamanders are likely to occur along environmental gradients, as well as their likelihood of detection, are important for the prevention and management of amphibian declines. We used presence/absence data from leaf litter bag surveys and a hierarchical Bayesian multispecies single-season occupancy model to estimate the occurrence of five species of plethodontids across reaches in headwater streams in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Average detection probabilities were high (range = 0.432–0.942) and unaffected by sampling covariates specific to the use of litter bags (i.e., bag submergence, sampling season, in-stream cover). Estimates of occurrence probabilities differed substantially between species (range = 0.092–0.703) and were influenced by the size of the upstream drainage area and by the maximum proportion of the reach that dried. The effects of these two factors were not equivalent across species. Our results demonstrate that hierarchical multispecies models successfully estimate occurrence parameters for both rare and common stream-breeding plethodontids. The resulting models clarify how species are distributed within stream networks, and they provide baseline values that will be useful in evaluating the conservation statuses of plethodontid species within lotic systems in the Gulf Coastal Plain.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Estimating occurrence and detection probabilities for stream-breeding salamanders in the Gulf Coastal Plain
Series title Journal of Herpetology
DOI 10.1670/16-050
Volume 51
Issue 1
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Contributing office(s) Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Description 7 p.
First page 102
Last page 108
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