Effects of sediments from the Redwood National Park Bypass Project (Caltrans) on the amphibian communities in streams in Prairie Creek State Park

Welsh HH and Ollivier LM. 1992. Effects of sediments from the Redwood National Park Bypass Project (Caltrans) on the amphibian communities in streams in Prairie Creek State Park. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. Arcata, CA

This report examines amphibian abundance and habitat structure in a section of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Large amounts of fine sediments from construction of a highway bypass affected some streams; the report contrasts impacted and unimpacted streams. Research at 5 affected and 5 control streams concentrated on three species of aquatic amphibians: tailed frog larvae, Pacific giant salamander neotenes and larvae, and southern Olympic salamander adults and larvae. "Densities of all three species were significantly lower in the sediment-impacted streams". (from authors' Abstract) The effects were species-specific, corresponding to use of mesohabitats, with use by all three of "interstitial space in the streambed matrix" accounting for the common vulnerability. The authors used both regression and discriminant analysis and present results in 12 tables. Three appendices: sampling procedures, reach and channel types, and incidental sightings of 4 amphibian species on the 10 streams studied.

Type
Published Report
Authors
Welsh, Hartwell; Ollivier, Lisa
Date of Issue
1992-11
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Units
REDW
Keywords
Amphibia, Amphibians, Animal Studies, Ascaphus truei, Bypass project, Construction, Density, Dicamptodon tenebrosus, Fluvial, Habitats, Impact, Lost Man Creek, Pacific Giant Salamander, Prairie Creek Aquatics, Prairie Creek Bibliography, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Presence (Biodiversity), Rhyacotriton variegatus, Rivers, Sediment, southern Olympic salamander, Streams, Tailed frog, Taxa Links To References
Subjects
Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles

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