Amphibian community monitoring at Cape Lookout National Seashore, 2012
Smrekar BD, Byrne MW, Kleinschmidt L, Schwartz NP. 2013. Amphibian community monitoring at Cape Lookout National Seashore, 2012. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2013/551. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes amphibian community vital signs monitoring data collected at Cape Lookout National Seashore in 2012. During 2012, automated recording devices (ARDs) and visual encounter surveys (VESs) were used to collect data at 29 spatially balanced random locations at Cape Lookout National Seashore. An additional point was added at Portsmouth Island on the North Core, in a location requested by CALO Natural Resource staff. Auditory recordings were collected at the park from 3/29/2012 through 6/18/2012 and visual surveys were conducted from 6/16/2012 to 6/29/2012. We detected seven amphibian species during 2012 monitoring activities. We detected 140 vocalizations from seven identifiable anuran species using the ARDs and 126 post-metamorphic amphibians in 2 species during the VESs. The squirrel treefrog (Hyla squirella) and Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) had the highest frequencies of occurrence among amphibians at CALO in 2012. Squirrel treefrog and green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) had the highest relative detection frequencies of vocalizations during the 77-day ARD recording period. Squirrel treefrog had the highest relative abundance of post-metamorphic amphibians during VESs in 2012. Squirrel treefrog was the most widely distributed amphibian in 2012, and was detected at sampling locations on the North Core, South Core, Shackleford Banks, and Harker’s Island. Two amphibian species, Southern toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) and bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), were detected for the first time at CALO and were added to the park species list. We detected 53 reptiles in eight identifiable species and two families during the VESs. One reptile was confirmed for the first time in the park and added to the species list; the corn snake, or red rat snake (Elaphe guttata). No non-native species were detected.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Smrekar, Briana; Byrne, Michael; Kleinschmidt, Lisa; Schwartz, Nathan
- Date of Issue
- 2013-09-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CALO , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- Amphibian, Amphibian Monitoring