Adjacent land-use affects amphibian community composition and species richness in managed forests in New Brunswick, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1687-1697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Jacobs ◽  
Jeff E. Houlahan
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Road Density ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Amphibian Community ◽  
Land Use Effects

Here, we examine the effects of adjacent land use in a managed forest on pond-breeding amphibian species richness and community composition at 34 New Brunswick, Canada, ponds. Amphibian species richness was negatively correlated with the proportion of roads, precommercial thinning, and hardwood forest and positively correlated with the proportion of wetlands in adjacent lands. These land-use effects peak at 180 m from the ponds. Road density was negatively correlated with Lithobates catesbeiana and Lithobates septentrionalis presence. Precommercial thinning was negatively correlated with Ambystoma spp. presence and positively correlated with Anaxyrus americanus presence. Wetlands were positively correlated with L. septentrionalis and Notopthalamus viridescens presence. Correlations were also found between water table height and A. americanus, Lithobates palustris , and Ambystoma spp. presence. In addition, L. catesbeiana and N. viridescens presence–absence was positively correlated with the proportion of mature and overmature forest on the landscape (at scales of 500 and 1000 m, respectively). Lastly, the proportion of regenerating and sapling forest on the landscape was negatively correlated with L. palustris presence–absence but, by contrast, was positively correlated with A. americanus. These results suggest that the effects of adjacent land use may significantly impact amphibian populations in managed eastern Canadian forests.

The effects of adjacent land use on wetland amphibian species richness and community composition

2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 1078-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff E Houlahan ◽  
C Scott Findlay
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Amphibian Declines ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Road Density ◽  
Amphibian Species

Habitat destruction and fragmentation have been identified as possible causes of large-scale amphibian declines. Here, we examine the effects of adjacent land use and water quality on wetland amphibian species richness, abundance, and community composition in 74 Ontario wetlands. Species richness was positively correlated with wetland area, forest cover, and the amount of wetlands on adjacent lands and negatively correlated with road density and nitrogen levels. The land-use effects peak at 2000–3000 m. Amphibian abundance was positively correlated with forest cover, distance to wetlands >20 ha, and amount of marsh habitat and negatively correlated with road density. The effects of adjacent land use were strongest at around 200 m. Land-use and water quality effects varied widely across species, although most species are positively correlated with forest cover and amount of wetlands on adjacent lands and negatively correlated with road density and water quality. These results suggest that the effects of adjacent land use on amphibian communities can extend over comparatively large distances. As such, effective wetland conservation will not be achieved merely through the creation of narrow buffer zones between wetlands and intensive land uses, but rather will require maintaining a heterogeneous regional landscape containing relatively large areas of natural forest and wetlands.

The effects of adjacent land use on wetland species richness and community composition

Wetlands ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff E. Houlahan ◽  
Paul A. Keddy ◽  
Kristina Makkay ◽  
C. Scott Findlay
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Wetland Species

Spring bryophytes in forested landscapes: Land use effects on bryophyte species richness, community structure and persistence

2005 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jani Heino ◽  
Risto Virtanen ◽  
Kari-Matti Vuori ◽  
Jouko Saastamoinen ◽  
Arvo Ohtonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Forested Landscapes ◽  
Land Use Effects

scholarly journals Lichen Responses to Disturbance: Clues for Biomonitoring Land-use Effects on Riparian Andean Ecosystems

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leiddy Chuquimarca ◽  
Fernando P. Gaona ◽  
Carlos Iñiguez-Armijos ◽  
Ángel Benítez
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Riparian Ecosystems ◽  
Natural Ecosystems

The transformation of natural ecosystems due to anthropogenic land use is considered one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Lichens, due to their poikilohydric nature, are very sensitive to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Therefore, lichen communities have been widely used as bioindicators of climatic and environmental changes. In this study, we evaluated how the species richness and community composition of epiphytic lichens respond to land-use intensity in riparian ecosystems of the Andes in southern Ecuador. Additionally, we evaluate how the richness of six functional traits (photobiont type, growth form, and reproductive strategy) changed across the different land-use intensity. We selected 10 trees in twelve sites for a total de 120 trees, equally divided into four riparian land-use intensities (forest, forest-pasture, pasture and urban). We recorded a total of 140 lichen species. Species richness was highest in the forest sites and decreased towards more anthropogenic land uses. Lichen community composition responded to land-use intensity, and was explained by microclimate variables (e.g., precipitation, percentage forested area) and distance to the forest. Richness of functional traits of lichens also differed significantly among the four land-use intensity and decreased from forests to urban land-use. Taxonomic diversity and functional traits can be effectively applied as bioindicators to assess and monitor the effects of land-use changes in the riparian ecosystems of tropical montane regions.

scholarly journals What is driving declines of montane endemic amphibians? New insights from Mount Bamboutos, Cameroon

Oryx ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Tchassem F. ◽  
T. M. Doherty-Bone ◽  
M. M. Kameni N. ◽  
W. P. Tapondjou N. ◽  
J. L. Tamesse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Amphibian Community ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
Forested Areas

Abstract Amphibians on African mountains are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, disease and climate change. In particular, there have been recent reports of declines of montane endemic frogs in Cameroon. Mount Bamboutos, although home to numerous species of endemic amphibians, has no official protection and its amphibian populations have so far not been studied quantitatively. We surveyed frog assemblages on this mountain along a gradient of forest modification over a 2-year period. Through visual encounter surveys stratified across forest and farmland, we found that threatened montane amphibian species are closely associated with forested areas, particularly the Critically Endangered Leptodactylodon axillaris and Endangered Leptodactylodon perreti, Astylosternus ranoides and Cardioglossa oreas. Using the updated inventory of amphibians, which includes species with broader ranges across Africa, we found 69% of amphibian species on Mount Bamboutos to be threatened. We did not record several species present in historical records, which suggests they may have disappeared from this mountain, including Cardioglossa pulchra, Phrynobatrachus steindachneri, Phrynobatrachus werneri, Sclerophrys villiersi, Werneria bambutensis and Wolterstorffina mirei. The pattern of change detected in the amphibian community is consistent with declines on other mountains in the country, with a loss of Phrynobatrachus, Werneria and Cardioglossa spp., but persistence of Astylosternus, Arthroleptis and Leptodacty-lodon. The observed relationships of land-use patterns and amphibian diversity suggest that ongoing land-use changes could extirpate the remaining montane endemic frog species, particularly L. axillaris and L. perreti. Preserving a network of connected forest patches is therefore critical to save the endemic amphibians of Mount Bamboutos.

scholarly journals Urban Amphibians of the Texas Panhandle

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-253
Author(s):  
Rasika Ramesh ◽  
Kerry Griffis-Kyle ◽  
Gad Perry ◽  
Michael Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Amphibian Declines ◽  
Amphibian Conservation ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Road Density ◽  
Amphibian Species

Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation due to urbanization are implicated in amphibian declines worldwide. Conservation efforts require information on resident species and their habitat interactions, but amphibian ecology is largely  unstudied in urban centers of the Southern High Plains. Here, we gathered baseline data on amphibian presence, species richness, and habitat preferences at site-specific and landscape scales during a severe drought year in the city of Lubbock, in northwestern Texas. Ephemeral playa wetlands are characteristic of this landscape. During urbanization, these have been extensively modifiied for stormwater drainage,  agriculture, and construction of roads, buildings and neighborhoods. A semi-arid climate with frequent droughts, together with urbanization, could have an adverse effect on resident amphibians. In 2011, we sampled 23 urban lakes for amphibian presence, using a combination of audio, visual, and larval surveys. We detected five amphibian species at seven lakes; Texas Toads (Anaxyrus speciosus) and Spotted Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris clarkii) were the most frequently encountered species. We found significant negative effects of nearby road density on amphibian species presence and richness. We also detected significant negative effects of basic pH on amphibian species richness. These data can be used for prioritizing lakes for amphibian conservation strategies, to monitor ecosystem function in urban wetlands, and to guide future development and restoration efforts.

scholarly journals Recovery of ecosystem functions after experimental disturbance in 73 grasslands differing in land‐use intensity, plant species richness and community composition

2019 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 2635-2649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Schäfer ◽  
Valentin H. Klaus ◽  
Till Kleinebecker ◽  
Runa S. Boeddinghaus ◽  
Judith Hinderling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Experimental Disturbance

scholarly journals Land use and climate change affects butterfly diversity across northern Austria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Christian Habel ◽  
Mike Teucher ◽  
Patrick Gros ◽  
Thomas Schmitt ◽  
Werner Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Landscape Configuration ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Observation Data

Abstract Context Biodiversity is severely decreasing at a global scale since several decades. There are significant changes in species community compositions, reductions of species richness and abundances of arthropods, as well as of arthropod biomass. Land use intensification and climate change are assumed to be main drivers causing biodiversity change and loss. However, proximate effects of land use, landscape configuration, topography and climate on species richness and species community composition were only rarely analysed. Objective We study the effects of current land cover, landscape structures and climate on butterfly and burnet moth species diversity and community composition across northern Austria (i.e. the federal state of Salzburg). Methods We compiled observation data of butterflies and burnet moths for the past 40 years. We divided faunal data, land cover data and data on climate into 5 × 5 km2 grid cells. We classified all lepidopterans assessed into groups according to their distribution, behaviour, ecology and life-history. Results We found higher species richness and temporal community shifts in higher elevations, and where topographic heterogeneity is high. Habitat connectivity has a positive impact on ecologically specialised, sedentary, and endangered species. Mean temperature and precipitation positively influenced species richness. Conclusions Both, land-use and climate strongly shape biodiversity structures. In particular, landscape heterogeneity promotes the diversity of ecological niches, which subsequently accelerates species diversity, including specialist species. Agricultural intensification in higher elevations and at steep slopes is more difficult and therefore less attractive, and thus the level of biodiversity is still high. In addition, climate warming might lead to the accumulation of species in higher elevations. Our study further underlines the relevance of habitat conservation at lower elevations, where not all habitat types are conserved sufficiently.

Transportation Economic and Land Use System

1998 ◽  
Vol 1617 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis J. Pignataro ◽  
Joseph Wen ◽  
Robert Burchell ◽  
Michael L. Lahr ◽  
Ann Strauss-Wieder
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Information System ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Transportation Projects ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
Surface Transportation ◽  
Land Use System ◽  
Land Use Effects ◽  
Computer Based

The purpose of the Transportation Economic and Land Use System (TELUS) is to convert the transportation improvement program (TIP) into a management tool. Accordingly, the system provides detailed and easily accessible information on transportation projects in the region, as well as their interrelationships and impacts. By doing so, TELUS enables public-sector agencies to meet organizational, Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, state, and other mandates more effectively. The objectives are accomplished by providing the computer-based capability to analyze, sort, combine, and track transportation projects in or under consideration for a TIP; assessing the interrelationships among significant transportation projects; estimating the regional economic and land use effects of transportation projects; and presenting project information in an easily understood format, including geographic information system formats.

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