Declines in Woodland Salamander Abundance Associated with Non‐Native Earthworm and Plant Invasions

摘要: Factors that negatively affect the quality of wildlife habitat are a major concern for conservation. Non-native species invasions, in particular, perceived as global threat to habitat. Recent evidence indicates some changes understory plant communities northern temperate forests North America, including invasions by 3 non-native species, facilitated earthworm invasion. Furthermore, cause reduction leaf litter on forest floor, and loss is commonly associated with declines fauna, amphibians. We conducted mark-recapture study woodland salamander abundance across invasion fronts at 10 sites determine whether or were reduced abundance. Salamander declined exponentially decreasing volume. There was no significant relationship between invasive cover abundance, independent effects due An analysis selected prey (excluding earthworms) 4 showed declining litter. The layers appears be affecting part, because small arthropods stable resource salamanders. Our results demonstrate pose amphibian fauna northeastern United States, symptomatic degraded but not necessarily drivers degradation.