The effects of preformed scour holes on anuran biodiversity in the North Central Piedmont region
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Andrew James Blevins Jennings (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Stanley Faeth
Abstract: Urbanization negatively affects many biotic communities throughout the world. In the southeast United States, cities are expanding into previously rural and forested areas, reducing quality and quantity of habitat which may lead to declines in species diversity. To mitigate the impact that urbanization has on natural systems, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) installed a new stormwater control, the Preformed Scour Hole (PSH). However the impact of PSHs on aquatic and amphibious populations and communties, including anurans (frogs and toads), is unknown. Using the manual calling survey protocol, I surveyed the anuran populations in PSHs in Guilford, Alamance, Caswell, and Randolph counties. I correlated species richness and individual species presence with local factors associated with patch quality and regional factors associated with connectedness. I found that, as predicted, degree of urbanization was negatively associated and PSH surface area and the presence of riparian vegetation was positively associated, with the total number of species present in PSHs. Additionally, I found that the presence of different genera were either positively (in the case of Lithobates) or negatively (in the case of Pseudacris) correlated with increases in urbanization. The results of this study suggest that PSHs may help to mitigate anuran diversity loss due to urbanization. Furthermore, my results suggest that genera-specific models should be created to explain patterns of anuran diversity in urban areas. However, this study was unable to determine PSHs effect on anuran individual fitness or population size.
The effects of preformed scour holes on anuran biodiversity in the North Central Piedmont region
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Created on 8/1/2013
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2013
- Keywords
- Amphibian, Anuran, Biodiversity, Ecology, Stormwater control, Urban
- Subjects
- Anura $x Effect of habitat modification on $z North Carolina
- Urban runoff $x Environmental aspects $z North Carolina
- Urban runoff $x Management $z North Carolina