Amphibian community monitoring at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 2012
Smrekar BD, Byrne MW, Kleinschmidt L, Schwartz NP. 2013. Amphibian community monitoring at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 2012. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2013/548. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes amphibian community vital signs monitoring data collected at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (KEMO) in 2012. 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 3/20/2012 to 6/7/2012. Auditory recordings were collected from 3/20/2012 through 6/7/2012 and visual surveys were conducted from 4/17/2012 through 5/3/2012. We detected 20 amphibian species at KEMO during our 2012 monitoring activities. We detected vocalizations from six identifiable anuran species using ARDs. We detected 203 post-metamorphic amphibians in 18 taxa (species or family) and 78 larval stage amphibians in 5 taxa (species or family) during VESs. A total of 48 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. Slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosis) had the highest frequency of occurrence among amphibians at KEMO in 2012. Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) had the highest frequency of occurrence among anurans. Cope’s gray treefrog had the highest relative frequency of detection of vocalizations over the 77-day recording period at KEMO in 2012. Spotted or Northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus conanti or fuscus) and slimy salamander had the highest relative abundance during 2012 VESs. Slimy salamander and Cope’s gray treefrog were the most widely-distributed amphibians at KEMO in 2012. We detected 175 reptiles or reptile signs in 16 taxa (genus or species) during VESs. The Southeastern five-lined skink (Eumeces inexpectatus) and Southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata) were confirmed in the park and added to the reptile park species list. No non-native species were found.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Smrekar, Briana; Byrne, Michael; Kleinschmidt, Lisa; Schwartz, Nathan
- Date of Issue
- 2013-09-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- KEMO , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- Amphibian, Amphibian Monitoring