Habitat relationships of reptiles in pine beetle disturbed forests of Alabama, U.S.A. with guidelines for a modified drift-fence sampling method

Abstract Understanding vertebrate habitat relationships is important to promote management strategies for the longterm conservation of many species. Using a modified drift fence method, we sampled reptiles and compared habitat variables within the William B. Bankhead National Forest (BNF) in Alabama, U.S.A from April 2005 to June 2006. We captured 226 individual reptiles representing 19 species during 564 total trap nights. We used canonical correspondence analysis to examine habitat associations for the reptiles sampled and we detected a distinct habitat gradient ranging from sites with greater litter depth and percent canopy cover to more open sites with greater woody, herbaceous, and coarse woody debris (CWD) coverage, and CWD volume. Little brown skinks Scincella lateralis and eastern worm snakes Carphophis a. amoenus were associated with sites with greater litter depth and canopy cover, whereas eastern fence lizards Sceloporus undulatus, copperheads Agkistrodon contortrix, and gray ratsnakes Pantherophis spiloides were associated with sites possessing greater CWD coverage and volume. We found that disturbances due to the southern pine beetle Dendroctonus frontalis were likely important for influencing reptile distributions through the creation of canopy gaps and fallen coarse woody debris. Compared to other studies, our modified drift-fence trap technique was successful for sampling larger snake species (66 snakes in 564 trap nights). We have also provided detailed schematics for constructing drift fence array and box traps used in this study.

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Influence of habitat and microhabitat on carabid (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages in four stand types

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n02-031 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 135 (3) ◽

pp. 337-357 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

J.L. Pearce ◽

L.A. Venier ◽

J. McKee ◽

J. Pedlar ◽

D. McKenney

Keyword(s):

Coarse Woody Debris ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Litter Layer ◽

Forest Types ◽

Disturbed Habitat ◽

Northwestern Ontario ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Insight Into ◽

Important Habitat

AbstractStudies based on presence/absence of a species may provide insight into habitat associations, allowing the distribution of species to be predicted across the landscape. Our objective was to characterize the carabid fauna in three mature boreal forest types (conifer, mixedwood, and deciduous) and a disturbed habitat (clearcut) to provide baseline data on the carabid species inhabiting the major forest types of boreal northwestern Ontario. Only spring-active carabids were considered for logistical reasons. We further identified the coarse woody debris structure and microhabitat characteristics within these stand types to try to refine our ability to predict the within-stand occurrence of carabids. We found the carabid composition of deciduous stands (mixedwood and aspen) similar and typical of the carabid fauna found in mixedwood forest in other nearby studies. The important feature of these forest types may be the presence of a deciduous leaf litter layer. In contrast, spruce stands contained fewer species and individuals and a distinct carabid fauna. As predicted, the clearcut habitats were dominated by open habitat species, although the fauna was dissimilar to what was recorded in clearcut habitats in other studies within northwestern Ontario. Coarse woody debris appeared to be an important habitat attribute for several carabid species in clearcut habitats.

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Analysis of the Habitat Associations of a Hypothetical Beetle Species

Habitat Ecology and Analysis ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198829287.003.0008 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 117-134

Author(s):

Joseph A. Veech

Keyword(s):

Woody Debris ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Beetle Species ◽

Habitat Analysis ◽

Oak Trees ◽

Environmental Predictor ◽

Components Analysis ◽

Classification And Regression ◽

Study Sites

A dataset for a hypothetical ground-dwelling beetle species is used to illustrate five methods of habitat analysis: (1) comparison of group means, (2) multiple linear regression, (3) multiple logistic regression, (4) classification and regression trees, and (5) principal components analysis. The dataset consists of abundance (counts of individuals) recorded in each of 100 small survey plots located throughout forested study sites. The following environmental predictor variables were measured in each plot: percentage canopy cover, depth of leaf litter, volume of woody debris, ratio of oak to non-oak trees, and soil type. Techniques for assessing normality of each variable and multicollinearity among variables are discussed and recommended prior to conducting the habitat analysis. Assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses of each method are discussed.

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Coarse woody debris and canopy cover in an old-growth Jeffrey pine-mixed conifer forest from the Sierra San Pedro Martir, Mexico

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2006.12.012 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 240 (1-3) ◽

pp. 87-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Scott L. Stephens ◽

Danny L. Fry ◽

Ernesto Franco-Vizcaíno ◽

Brandon M. Collins ◽

Jason M. Moghaddas

Keyword(s):

Coarse Woody Debris ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Conifer Forest ◽

Mixed Conifer ◽

Old Growth ◽

Jeffrey Pine ◽

San Pedro ◽

Mixed Conifer Forest ◽

Sierra San Pedro Martir

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Estimating Coarse Woody Debris Volume Using Image Analysis and Multispectral LiDAR

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11020141 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 141 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gustavo Lopes Queiroz ◽

Gregory McDermid ◽

Julia Linke ◽

Christopher Hopkinson ◽

Jahan Kariyeva

Keyword(s):

Image Analysis ◽

Coarse Woody Debris ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Radiometric Calibration ◽

Dead Trees ◽

Novel Strategy

Coarse woody debris (CWD, parts of dead trees) is an important factor in forest management, given its roles in promoting local biodiversity and unique microhabitats, as well as providing carbon storage and fire fuel. However, parties interested in monitoring CWD abundance lack accurate methods to measure CWD accurately and extensively. Here, we demonstrate a novel strategy for mapping CWD volume (m3) across a 4300-hectare study area in the boreal forest of Alberta, Canada using optical imagery and an infra-canopy vegetation-index layer derived from multispectral aerial LiDAR. Our models predicted CWD volume with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.62 compared to field data, and a root-mean square error (RMSE) of 0.224 m3/100 m2. Models using multispectral LiDAR data in addition to image-analysis data performed with up to 12% lower RMSE than models using exclusively image-analysis layers. Site managers and researchers requiring reliable and comprehensive maps of CWD volume may benefit from the presented workflow, which aims to streamline the process of CWD measurement. As multispectral LiDAR radiometric calibration routines are developed and standardized, we expect future studies to benefit increasingly more from such products for CWD detection underneath canopy cover.

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