Streamside zone width and amphibian and reptile abundance

Abstract

Many natural pine-hardwood stands in the southeastern United States are being converted to pine plantations with short rotations. This forest conversion alters vertebrate communities, particularly amphibians and reptiles (Bennett et al., 1980; Rakowitz, 1983). One practice in stand conversion to accommodate vertebrate species is the retention of strips of unharvested, mature trees along permanent and intermittent streams. These strips are termed riparian zones, streamside zones, streamers, or stringers.

Keywords

streamside zone, amphibian, reptile, riparian zone, silviculture

Citation

Rudolph, D. Craig; Dickson, James G. 1990. Streamside zone width and amphibian and reptile abundance. Southwestern Naturalist 35(4):472-476.