The distribution and abundance of amphibians across land-use types in Alberta's Aspen Parkland.

摘要

Alteration and loss of habitat are likely major causes of declining amphibian populations worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess amphibian habitat-use in the highly modified Aspen Parkland of central Alberta, Canada. Small ponds, classified as crop, pasture, residential or "natural" based on surrounding land-use, were surveyed for amphibians using auditory call surveys and live traps. Local, pond-level and landscape-level habitat features were also measured. Relative abundances of wood frog and boreal chorus frog were lowest in crop and pasture ponds, western toad abundance was greatest at "natural" and pasture ponds, and tiger salamander abundance was greatest within crop ponds themselves. The Canadian toad was extremely rare. Several landscape and some local habitat features were strongly associated with relative abundances of frogs and the tiger salamander. Results suggest that land-use types vary in their suitability as amphibian habitat and landscape-level features significantly influence amphibian abundance.