Response of reptile and amphibian communities to canopy gaps created by wind disturbance in the southern Appalachians

Reptile and amphibian communities were sampled in intact gaps created by wi nd disturbance, salvage-logged gaps, and closed canopy mature forest (contr ols). Sampling was conducted during June-October in 1997 and 1998 using dri ft fences with pitfall and funnel traps. Basal area of live trees, shade, l eaf litter coverage, and litter depth was highest in controls and lowest in salvaged gaps. Percent cover, length, and diameter of coarse woody debris (CWD) were significantly greater in intact gaps than in salvaged gaps or co ntrols. Coarse woody debris was more decayed and had less bark in controls than gaps. The relative abundance of salamanders and American toads, and sp ecies richness and diversity of amphibians did not differ among treatments. In contrast, relative abundance of two lizard species and (marginally) sna kes, and species richness and diversity of reptiles was higher in both gap treatments than in controls. Results suggest that higher light in gaps posi tively influenced reptile abundance, but CWD at the tested levels was not a n important determinant of habitat quality. The presence of a partial canop y and other forest features in both gap treatments may have adequately reta ined the microclimatic conditions required by moisture-sensitive amphibians . Xeric study sites and an associated assemblage of species that are pre-ad apted to relatively warm, dry conditions also might partially explain the a bsence of any significant response by amphibians. In the closed canopy fore sts of the southern Appalachians, I suggest that salamanders were historica lly dominant, whereas many reptile species occurred at low densities and de pended upon infrequent natural disturbance to create ephemeral patches of s uitable habitat. Further study is required to determine what parameters of disturbance influence reptile and amphibian communities, and how these effe cts might differ along a moisture gradient and among species. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.