Amphibian and reptile community response to coarse woody debris manipulations in upland loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests

摘要: Coarse woody debris (CWD) has been identified as a key microhabitat component for groups that are moisture and temperature sensitive such amphibians reptiles. However, few experimental manipulations have quantitatively assessed amphibian reptile response to varying CWD volumes within forested environments. We large-scale, manipulation managed loblolly pine stands in the southeastern Coastal Plain of United States from 1998 2005. Our study consisted two treatment phases: Phase I treatments included downed removal (removal all CWD), standing pre-treatment snag, control; II addition (downed volume increased 5-fold), snag (standing 10-fold), (all removed), control. Amphibian anuran capture rates were greater control than plots during I. In II, diversity richness treatments. Capture rate Rana sphenocephala was treatment. The dominant snake species captured adapted burrowing sandy soil or taking refuge under leaf litter. endemic upland forests may not evolved rely on because humid climate short fire return interval resulted historically low CWD.