Many amphibian communities are negatively influenced by increased urbanization and local habitat changes. The anthropogenic activities alter the biophysical and environmental conditions of amphibian breeding habitat. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of (1) landscape change from forest to urban and (2) local habitat change of the amount of canopy cover surrounding vernal pools on pool biophysical conditions and pool breeding amphibian communities. The study was conducted at six vernal pools in forest landscape (three open and three closed canopy) in James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area, Jackson County and four urban pools (two open and two closed canopy) in Huntsville City, Madison County, Alabama. In the summer 2009, we conducted weekly amphibian sampling using twelve cover boards, twelve PVC pipe tubes and four litter traps around each breeding pool. Amphibian larvae, metamorphs, and adults were identified and measured for snout-vent length (SLV), tail length (TL) and weight. We measured dissolved oxygen, pool area, canopy cover, pH and temperature of each pool.
Results/Conclusions
Our results suggest that urbanization and canopy cover affected amphibian species richness and abundance and vernal pool biophysical conditions. Vernal pools in forested landscape had higher amphibian species richness than those in urban landscape. Urban pools had higher water pH and soil temperatures. Salamanders species occurred only at pools with closed canopy cover regardless the landscape type. Open forest vernal pools had higher water pH probably because these pools had more macrophytes that removed carbon dioxide from the water during photosynthesis process increase.