Amphibian community monitoring at Ocmulgee National Monument, 2011
Smrekar BD, Byrne MW, Moore MN, Presnell AT. 2013. Amphibian community monitoring at Ocmulgee National Monument, 2011. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2013/530. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes amphibian community vital signs monitoring data collected at Ocmulgee National Monument (OCMU) in 2011. Data were collected at 21 spatially balanced random locations using two techniques: automated recording devices and visual encounter surveys. Sampling activities occurred at the park from 3/8/2011 to 5/28/2011. Auditory recordings were collected from 3/8/2011 to 5/27/2011 and visual surveys were conducted from 5/19/2011 through 5/28/2011. A total of 391 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 18 amphibian species during 2011 monitoring activities. We detected amphibian calls of 14 anuran species using the ARDs. We detected 95 post-metamorphic amphibians in 15 taxa (species, genus, or family) and 85 larval stage amphibians in 3 identifiable species during VESs. We detected 94 reptiles in 18 identifiable taxa during VESs. The Southern toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) had the highest frequency of occurrence of all amphibians at OCMU in 2011, while the Ocmulgee slimy salamander (Plethodon ocmulgee) had the highest frequency of occurrence among Caudates. Cricket frog (Acris sp.) and bird-voiced treefrog (Hyla avivoca) had the highest relative frequency of detection of vocalizations during the 77-day ARD recording period. Ocmulgee slimy salamander had the highest relative abundance of amphibians detected during VESs, while cricket frog had the highest relative abundance among anurans during the VESs. Southern toad was the most widely distributed amphibian species at OCMU in 2011. Ocmulgee slimy salamander was the most widely distributed caudate. The Southeastern (upland) chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum) was added to the amphibian species list at Ocmulgee National Monument. The red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) was added to the reptile species list at the park. No non-native species were found.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Smrekar, Briana; Byrne, Michael; Moore, Marylou; Presnell, Aaron
- Date of Issue
- 2013-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NRSS , OCMU , SECN
- Keywords
- Amphibian Monitoring