Amphibian community monitoring at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 2011

Smrekar, Briana; Byrne, Michael; Moore, Marylou; Presnell, Aaron

This report summarizes amphibian community vital signs monitoring data collected at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CHAT) in 2011. Data were collected at 30 spatially-balanced random locations using two techniques: automated recording devices (ARDs) and visual encounter surveys (VESs). Sampling activities occurred at the park from 3/16/2011 to 6/23/2011. Auditory recordings were collected from 3/16/2011 to 6/2/2011 and visual surveys were conducted from 6/7/2011 through 6/23/2011. A total of 230 vocal detections were made using the ARD recordings, where each detection represents an identifiable observation of a species or species group during one night of monitoring at a sampling location. We detected 21 amphibian species. We detected 237 post-metamorphic amphibians in 22 taxa (species or order) and 18 larval stage amphibians in five taxa during visual encounter surveys. We detected anuran calls in 11 identifiable species using automated recording devices. We detected 78 reptiles or reptile signs in 15 identifiable taxa. Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) and American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) had the highest frequency of occurrence at CHAT, and American toad had the highest relative abundance of amphibians during VESs in 2011. Among caudates, slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosis) had the highest frequency of occurrence, while the southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) had the highest relative abundance during VESs in 2011. Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) and Cope’s gray treefrog had the highest relative detection frequency of vocalizations during the 77-day ARD recording period. Cope’s gray treefrog, American toad, and spring peeper were the most widely distributed amphibians during 2011, found at sampling locations along the entire north-south expanse of the park. Ground skink (Scincella lateralis) and worm snake (Carphophis amoenus) were the most broadly distributed reptiles. The green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) and the spotted dusky salamander (Desmognathus conanti) were added to the species list at Chattahoochee River. No non-native species were found.

Amphibian community monitoring at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 2011

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