| Abstract: | In the past century, habitat alteration and fragmentation have increased dramatically, which increases the need for improving our understanding of how species and biological communities react to these modifications. A national strategy on biological diversity has focused attention on how these habitat modifications affect species, especially herpetofauna (i.e., changes in species richness, community evenness and similarity, and dominant/rare species). As part of this strategy, we surveyed Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, a coastal, mixed second-growth forested swamp (MFS) and pocosin wetland (PW), in North Carolina for amphibians and reptiles from September 2000 to August 2001. We randomly selected three sites (3 x 3 km) in two major habitat types (MFS, PW) and completed random surveys and trapping using transects, quadrats, nighttime aural road surveys, drift fences, canal transects, coverboards, incidental captures, and evening road surveys. We also collected herpetofauna opportunistically throughout the refuge to establish an updated species list. For analysis, we used Shannon-Weiner species diversity (H‘), evenness (1‘), species richness and species detectability (COMDYN4), and community percent similarity index to determine herpetofaunal community differences. We estimated 39 species in MFS and 32 species in PW (P < 0.10). Species detectability was similar between habitats (0.84 to 0.86). More reptilian species (+ 31 %) inhabited MFS than PW, but estimated amphibian species richness was identical (17 spp.). H‘ was higher (P < 0.000 I) for PW (2.6680) than for MFS (2.1535) because of lower J‘ in the latter (0.6214 vs. 0.8010). Dominance of three Rana species caused lower J‘ and H‘ in MFS. Similarity between the communities was 56.6%; we estimated 22-24 species in common for each habitat (95% CI = 18 to 31 spp.). We verified 49 of the 52 herpetofaunal species on the refuge that were known to exist in the area. Restoration of natural water flows may affect herpetofaunal diversity, which may be monitored during a restoration project. Currently, the refuge retains historical levels of herpetofaunal diversity for the region. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5224672 |
| Citation Author: | Meyers, J.M.; Pike, D.A. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 252 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Southeastern Naturalist |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 18 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 235-252 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | 6595_Meyers.pdf |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Herpetofaunal diversity of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina; 2006; Article; Journal; Southeastern Naturalist; Meyers, J.M.; Pike, D.A. |
| Citation Start Page: | 235 |
| Citation Volume: | 5 |
| Citation Year: | 2006 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Herpetofaunal diversity of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina; 2006; Article; Journal; Southeastern Naturalist; Meyers, J.M.; Pike, D.A. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-archive&issn=1528-7092&volume=5 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
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