Movement patterns and relative abundance of coastal tailed frogs in clearcuts and mature forest stands

• Published in: Canadian journal of forest research Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 1131 - 1138
• Main Authors: Matsuda, B.M, Richardson, J.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.05.2005; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: adult animals; age; age differences; Amphibians; Animal and plant ecology; Animal behavior; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anura; Ascaphus truei; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Clearcutting; Comparative studies; Demecology; forest habitats; Forest management; Forestry; Frogs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitat utilization; Habitats; indicator species; juveniles; Mortality; Pitfall traps; Relative abundance; Reptilia. Amphibia; riparian areas; streams; temperate forests; Vertebrata; wild animals; British Columbia; Canada; North America; America; British Columbia Canada; Forests; Forest stand; Fauna; Zoology; Amphibia; Forest management; Ecology; Wild life; Salientia; Animal active movement; Forest logging; Nearctic Region; Disturbed ecosystem; Vertebrata; Stand characteristics; Clearcutting; Environment impact; Forestry; Habitat; Maturity; Ecological abundance; Coniferous forest
• ISSN: 0045-5067; 1208-6037
• DOI: 10.1139/x05-042

Age-specific movements, abundance, and capture rates of coastal tailed frogs (Ascaphus truei Stejneger) were compared between clearcuts and mature forests in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, during 1998 and 1999 using pitfall traps and drift-fence arrays. Total frog abundance was similar in both habitat types. More adults were caught in mature stands than in clearcuts, but there was no significant difference for immatures. Analysis of numbers of frogs captured indicated that the direction of movement did not differ between habitat types for any age-class. Frogs were captured at similar frequencies across distance from stream in both habitats. These findings suggest that there are age-specific differences in tailed frog abundance in clearcuts along streams without riparian reserves relative to mature forests. Variation among sites had a greater influence than habitat type on the number of immatures. Low proportions of adults in clearcuts suggested that immatures may be transient or that they incurred high rates of mortality. Age-specific differences in habitat use by tailed frogs indicated that total numbers alone are insufficient to determine the effect of forest management on habitat suitability for tailed frogs.