Amphibian Density and Diversity Survey on Cane Creek of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Surrounding Private Land

Grimm, Addison

ABSTRACT: Over the past few decades, amphibian populations have been declining globally. Though the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) has been thoroughly researched regarding amphibian density and diversity, there has not been much research done on a particular plot of land immediately adjacent to the park. This parcel is a privately-owned 1100 acre piece of land, and because the owners work extensively to conserve their plant life and wildlife, it is a site of interest to local biologists. Because no previous research had been done here, this study was established to survey amphibian density and diversity along Cane Creek, which flows from the GRSM into this private land, and denote any differences in density and diversity between the private and NPS land. Sixty sampling plots were established along the creek on both the private and NPS-owned land, and each plot was sampled during the months of August and October of 2015. The results showed an overall combined higher level of abundance (P=0.020) and richness (P=0.015) on the private land as opposed to the NPS land. A secondary goal of the study was to examine any difference in sampling plot size—3x25m versus 10x10m. The overall combined results did not show a significant difference in abundance (P=0.405) and richness (P=0.885) between these two plot sizes. This study showed that there appears to be a significantly greater density and diversity of amphibians on the private end of Cane Creek, and further research needs to be done in order to examine this difference.