Influence of coarse woody debris on herpetofaunal communities in upland pine stands of the southeastern Coastal Plain
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Published source details
Davis J.C., Castleberry S.B. & Kilgo J.C. (2010) Influence of coarse woody debris on herpetofaunal communities in upland pine stands of the southeastern Coastal Plain. Forest Ecology and Management, 259, 1111-1117.
Published source details Davis J.C., Castleberry S.B. & Kilgo J.C. (2010) Influence of coarse woody debris on herpetofaunal communities in upland pine stands of the southeastern Coastal Plain. Forest Ecology and Management, 259, 1111-1117.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Leave standing/deadwood snags in forests Action Link |
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Leave woody debris in forests after logging Action Link |
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Leave standing/deadwood snags in forests
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2008 in a loblolly pine Pinus taeda forest in South Carolina, USA (Davis et al. 2010, same experimental set-up as Owens et al. 2008) found that increasing standing coarse woody debris had no effect on reptile abundance, species richness or diversity. Abundance, species richness and diversity were similar between plots with increased standing woody debris (abundance: 0.18 individuals/m fencing, richness: 0.10 species/m fencing, diversity: 0.03 Shannon-Wiener Index) and plots with no manipulation of debris (0.15, 0.11, 0.03). Nine-ha plots within three pine stands (approximately 45 years old) were randomly assigned the following management: standing woody debris increased 10 fold by girdling then injecting with herbicide (initiated 2001, to 35 m3/ha woody debris in 2007) or no manipulation of woody debris (initiated 1996, 13 m3/ha woody debris). All plots were prescribed burned in 2004. Reptiles were sampled for 14 days/plot in each of seven seasons (January 2007–August 2008) using drift fences with pitfall traps.
(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)
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Leave woody debris in forests after logging
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2008 in a loblolly pine Pinus taeda forest in South Carolina, USA (Davis et al. 2010, same experimental set-up as Owens et al. 2008) found that leaving downed coarse woody debris had no effect on lizard or snake abundance, species richness or diversity compared to removing debris. After retaining woody debris, snake abundance, richness and diversity were similar (abundance: 0.04 individuals/m drift fence, richness: 0.04 species/m drift fence, diversity: 0.01 Shannon-Wiener Index) compared to when debris was removed (abundance: 0.07, richness: 0.04, diversity: 0.01) and also similar to when debris was added (abundance: 0.03, richness: 0.02, diversity: 0.003). For lizards there was also no difference between retaining (abundance: 0.01, richness: 0.07, diversity: 0.02), removing (abundance: 0.15, richness: 0.07, diversity: 0.02) or adding debris (abundance: 0.15, richness: 0.07, diversity: 0.02). Nine ha plots in three pine stands (approximately 45 years old, three plots/stand) were managed by: retaining woody debris (initiated 1996, 13 m3/ha woody debris); removing all downed woody debris ≥10 cm diameter and ≥60 cm in length by hand (initiated 1996, to 0.24 m3/ha in 2006); or increasing volume of downed woody debris five-fold by felling trees (initiated 2001, to 59 m3/ha in 2007). All plots were prescribed burned in 2004. Reptiles were sampled for 14 days/plot in each of seven seasons (January 2007–August 2008) using drift fences with pitfall traps.
(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)
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