Hemlock Removal Experiment - Salamander Response

Data

• hf038-01: salamander data

Overview

• Lead: Brooks Mathewson, Elizabeth Colburn
• Investigators: David Foster
• Contact: Elizabeth Colburn
• Start date: 2003-09-30
• End date: 2005-12-31
• Location: Simes Tract (Harvard Forest)
• Latitude: +42.466 to +42.480
• Longitude: -72.218 to -72.211
• Elevation: 225 to 240 meters
• Taxa: Adelges tsugae (hemlock woolly adelgid), Plethodon cinereus (eastern redback salamander)
• Research topic: plot, community
• Study type: short-term measurement
• LTER core area: populations, disturbance
• Keywords: hemlock woolly adelgid, pre-emptive salavage logging, redback salamander
• Release date: 2006
• EML version: knb-lter-hfr.38.9
• Revisions:
• Related links:
• Salamander Abundance at Harvard Forest
• Abstract:

  Despite reductions in prices, pre-emptive salvage logging of eastern hemlock stands has increased since the arrival of eastern hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae, HWA) into this region. The microenvironmental changes associated with eastern hemlock loss have been found to be even more severe than when stands are lost to logging due to HWA infestation. This study assessed the effects of a commercial logging operation on two 90m x 90m (0.8 ha) plots, conducted in the winter of 2004-2005, on eastern redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus) relative abundance within the Simes tract at Harvard Forest. Over the past seven seasons (fall 2003 - fall 2005; excluding winter) I have been monitoring eastern redback salamander relative abundance using artificial cover objects (ACOs). The objectives of this study were 1) to assess whether logging has an impact on redback relative abundance at a plot level 2) to assess whether logging in isolated plots has an impact on relative abundance throughout the entire Simes tract 3) to assess whether redback relative abundance is stable over two years.

  Redback relative abundance in spring 2005 was 660% lower than in spring 2004 in logged plots, while in unlogged plots there was a 4% increase in redback relative abundance in spring 2005 versus spring 2004 (one-way ANOVA; df = 7, F = 6.21, p less than 0.05). Between fall 2004 and spring 2005 redback relative abundance decreased by 727% in the logged plots, compared to only a 29% decrease in unlogged plots (one-way ANOVA; df = 7, F = 10.51, p less than 0.05). Plots adjacent to logged plots had a significantly higher increase in redback relative abundance in spring 2005 versus spring 2004 than those not adjacent to the logged plots (one-way ANOVA; df = 5, F = 8.64, p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in redback relative abundance in all plots in spring 2004 versus spring 2005 (one-way ANOVA; df = 15, F = 0.20, p = 0.665), or in fall 2004 versus spring 2005 (one-way ANOVA; df = 15, F = 0.03, p = 0.859). Further, the annual difference in redback relative abundance in the fall over three years indicates that the redback population has been extremely stable during this period (one-way ANOVA; df = 23, F = 0.05, p = 0.954).

• Methods:

  In each of the eight experimental plots at Simes four artificial cover object (ACO) stations were set up. Each ACO station consists of one rough-cut eastern hemlock board (1m x 0.25m x 2cm) and one asphalt shingle (1m x 0.25m). ACO stations were monitored between two and five times per season.

• Use:

  This dataset is released to the public and may be freely downloaded. Please keep the designated Contact person informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation or collaboration with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset must include proper acknowledgement. For more information on LTER Network data access and use policies, please see: http://www.lternet.edu/data/netpolicy.html.

• Citation:

  Mathewson B, Colburn E. 2006. Hemlock Removal Experiment - Salamander Response. Harvard Forest Data Archive: HF038.

Detailed Metadata

hf038-01: salamander data

1. ACO: artificial cover object number
2. ASN: ACO station number
3. Plot: plot number
4. ACO Name: Original name given to ACO. First two letters are for Simes. Second two letters indicate forest type (TS = hemlock, HW = hardwood or mixed deciduous). First number indicates replicate number of forest type. Following letter indicates which transect ACO is perpendicular to (S = South, N = North, E = East, W = West). Next letter indicates whether ACO is board (B) or shingle (S). Next number indicates position along transect (2 = 20 meters from origin, 7 = 70 meters from origin).
5. FT: forest type
   • HW: hardwood or mixed deciduous
   • TS: hemlock
6. Treatment: logging treatment
   • Control: control
   • Girdled: girdled
   • Logged: logged
7. Lat: latitude of ACO (degree )
8. Long: longitude of ACO (degree )
9. Datum: datum for latitude and longitude coordinates
10. FA03 N: number of times ACO was monitored in fall 2003 (number )
11. FA03 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in fall 2003 (number )
12. SP04 N: number of times ACO was monitored in spring 2004 (number )
13. SP04 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in spring 2004 (number )
14. SU04 N: number of times ACO was monitored in summer 2004 (number )
15. SU04 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in summer 2004 (number )
16. FA04 N: number of times ACO was monitored in fall 2004 (number )
17. FA04 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in fall 2004 (number )
18. SP05 N: number of redbacks found during ACO searches in spring 2005 (number )
19. SP05 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in spring 2005 (number )
20. SU05 N: number of times ACO was monitored in summer 2005 (number )
21. SU05 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in summer 2005 (number )
22. FA05 N: number of times ACO was monitored in fall 2005 (number )
23. FA05 Avg: average number of redbacks found during ACO searches in fall 2005 (number )