Reptile, amphibian, and small mammal species associated with natural gas development in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia

摘要: Burgeoning energy demand in the United States has led to increased natural gas exploration Appalachian Basin. Despite increasing development region, data about its impacts wildlife are lacking. Our objective was assess past and ongoing on reptiles, amphibians, small mammals Monongahela National Forest West Virginia. We sampled 40 well sites compared amphibian, reptile, mammal captures among active producing, plugged (inactive), storage types. Total species richness diversity were greater at than wells. Although adversely moisture-sensitive woodland salamanders, our results suggest that maintained openings may benefit other herpetofauna use early successional habitat within predominately forested central landscapes.