Wetland predictors of amphibian distributions and diversity within the southeastern U.S. coastal plain

I examined the relationship between habitat variables and the distribution of amphibian species in 29 isolated wetlands in southwestern Georgia, USA. Wetlands were sampled for amphibians in the winter, spring, and summer using aquatic traps, dipnetting, PVC pipe refugia, and automated frog call recording devices (frogloggers). Distributions of 6 amphibian species were associated with wetland type, and distributions of 3 species were negatively associated with predatory fish presence. Cypress-gum wetlands supported a different amphibian assemblage than cypress savannas or marshes. I contend that the different assemblage in cypress-gum wetlands is related to water chemistry, water temperature, food resource, and predator diversity differences that result from the dense canopy cover and long hydroperiod characteristic of this wetland type. I recommend a minimum combination of aquatic funnel traps and frogloggers for future amphibian surveys to effectively document species richness within isolated wetlands in the region.