SREL Reprint #2499

Evaluation of herpetofaunal communities on upland streams and beaver-impounded streams in the upper piedmont of South Carolina

Brian S. Metts1, J. Drew Lanham2, and Kevin R. Russell3

1Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29802
2Clemson University, Department of Forest Resources, 261 Lehotsky Hull, Clemson, South Carolina 29634
3Williamette Industries Inc., Coast operations, P.O. Box 488, Dallas, Oregon 97338

Abstract: Beavers (Castor canadensis) create numerous scattered wetlands in the southeastern United States that alter the composition of aquatic and adjacent terrestrial communities. However, the influence of beaver ponds on communities of amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) is poorly known. We used drift fences, coverboards and aquatic traps to compare herpetofaunal communities from unimpounded streams (n=3) with those of beaver ponds (n=3) in the Piedmont of South Carolina during 1998 and 1999. We also characterized differences in environmental and upland habitat attributes between beaver ponds and unimpounded streams. There were no significant differences in overall herpetofaunal abundance between unimpounded streams and beaver ponds, although significantly more salamanders were captured at uminpounded streams and significantly more anurans, lizards and turtles were captured at beaver ponds. Estimates of amphibian and reptile species overlap were high for beaver ponds and unimpounded streams. However, the richness (S), diversity (H') and evenness (J') of amphibians were significantly higher at unimpounded streams than at beaver ponds. In contrast, the abundance, richness and diversity of reptiles were significantly higher at beaver impoundments. Differences in amphibian and reptile community atrributes between beaver ponds were related to the lotic or lentic habitat requirements of individual species and the effects of beaver impoundments on surrounding terrestrial habitats. Our study indicates that natural disturbances resulting from beaver-created wetlands increase regional abundance and diversity of herpetofauna.

SREL Reprint #2499

Metts, B. S., J. D. Lanham, and K. R. Russell. 2001. Evaluation of herpetofaunal communities on upland streams and beaver-impounded streams in the upper piedmont of South Carolina. American Midland Naturalist 145:54-65.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).