Two salamander species respond differently to timber harvests in a managed New England forest

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7604
• Publication Date: 2019-08-30T07:25:06Z
• Authors: Angus Mossman; Max R. Lambert; Mark S. Ashton; Jessica Wikle; Marlyse C. Duguid
• Keywords: New england

Managing forests for timber while protecting wildlife habitat is of increasing concern. Amphibians may be particularly sensitive to forest management practices due their unique biology; however, it not clear how different species respond harvest practices-particularly over longer time scales.Here we report on the differential responses two salamander species-the eastern red-backed (Plethodon cinereus Green) and newt (Notophthalmus viridescens Rafinesque)-to harvesting, by examining communities across a 25-year chronosequence regenerating shelterwood harvests.Populations both were lowest immediately after harvest, but increased at substantially rates. Red-backed populations highest in 20-25 year-old shelterwoods-significantly higher than mature, unharvested, control (100-120 year old) stands. Eastern populations, greatest unharvested stands still had recovered population levels found mature 25 years since harvest. abundances strongly tied stand age as well abundance decayed coarse woody debris, suggesting that harvests influence some affecting suite interacting variables change time. In contrast, directly related more downed wood vegetation characteristics. Our results highlight markedly variable common harvesting-species with life histories reproductive patterns-and useful predicting abundance.