Effects of Forest Management on Amphibians and Reptiles in Missouri Ozark Forests

Abstract

As part of the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP), we experimentally evaluated the impacts of forest management on the relative abundance of amphibians and reptiles in Missouri's Ozark forests (U.S.A.). Using large study sites (average size of 400 ha) as the experimental unit, we tested the effects of unevenaged and even-aged forest management treatments compared with no-harvest management (i.e., control) on the relative abundance of 13 focal amphibian and reptile species. Within even-aged management sites, we also focused on the local-scale effects of clearcutting on these species by comparing relative abundance among plots located within clearcut stands, 50 m away from clearcut stands, and 200 m away from clearcut stands. Pretreatment sampling of species abundance occurred from 1992 through 1995, and post-treatment sampling occurred from 1997 through 2000. At the landscape scale, treatment significantly affected the abundance of Bufo americanus. This species declined less on even-aged management sites than on control sites, but the general decline on all sites suggests that other factors may have contributed to this result. Within even-aged management sites, most amphibian species declined and some reptile species increased relative to pretreatment abundances within clearcut stands. We found significant effects of distance from clearcut for two amphibian species, Ambystoma maculatum and Rana clamitans, and two reptile species, Scincella lateralis and Sceloporus undulatus. In general, we conclude that clearcuts within even-aged management sites locally affected amphibian and reptile species but, at a larger spatial scale, we did not detect significant effects of even-aged and uneven-aged forest management. These findings represent relatively short-term data but suggest that forest management and maintenance of biodiversity may be compatible when relatively small amounts of the landscape are disturbed. Efectos de la Gestión de Bosques Sobre Anfibios y Reptiles en los Bosques Ozark, MissouriResumen: Como parte del Proyecto Ecosistema del Bosque Ozark de Missouri (PEBOM), evaluamos experimentalmente los impactos de la gestión de bosques sobre la abundancia relativa de anfibios y reptiles en los bosques Ozark, Missouri (E.U.A.). Utilizando sitios de estudio extensos (es decir, de tamaño promedio de 400ha) como la unidad experimental, estudiamos los efectos de tratamientos de manejo de bosques de edad uniforme y dispar comparados con el manejo sin cosecha (es decir, control) sobre la abundancia relativa de 13 especies focales de anfibios y reptiles. En los sitios de manejo de edad uniforme, también analizamos los efectos a escala local de la tala completa sobre estas especies comparando la abundancia relativa entre parcelas localizadas dentro de los claros talados, a 50 m y 200 m de los claros. Para determinar la abundancia de especies, se tomaron muestras previas al tratamiento de 1992 a 1995, y muestras posteriores al tratamiento de 1997 a 2000. A la escala de paisaje, el tratamiento afectó significati...

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