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| Web URL(s): | http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/rpr/1998/61871,%20U%20RI,%20Paton.PDF
Last checked: 10/24/2013
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| Publication Type:
| Report |
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| Material Type: | Manuscript |
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| Monographic Author(s): | Paton, Peter |
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| Author Affiliation: | Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI |
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| Monograph Title: | Can Golf Courses Be Designed to Enhance Amphibian Movements to Breeding Sites?: [1998 Annual Research Report], 1998. |
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| Publishing Information: | Kingston, Rhode Island: University of Rhode Island |
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| # of Pages: | 21 |
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| Collation: | [21] pp. |
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| Abstract/Contents: | "(1) Amphibian movement chronology and community structure was monitored in three ponds in the middle of the proposed golf course construction site starting mid-February 1998. A total of 7,911 amphibian captures representing 11 species were recorded since project initiation. In addition, two species of snakes and 7 species of mammals were detected.; (2) Experimental evidence showed that frogs prefer to move through wooded habitats rather than turf areas (G = 3.6, P = 0.058) or barren areas (G = 9.2, P = 0.002). This preliminary finding suggests that dispersal corridors from ponds to upland wintering areas will be more effective if designed to include woodlands. However, other research showed that amphibians will readily cross turf.; (3) Experiments with various grass heights (0.25", 0.5", 1.0", and ~2-5") found no evidence that grass height affected frog movement patterns (G=3.7, P = 0.29). This suggests that varying grass height is not a management option to increase frog use of a potential movement corridor.; (4) Frogs readily crossed a 68 m (225') wide, mowed grass field, but there was little evidence of amphibian movement across a 175 m (575') wide grass field. This preliminary evidence suggests that the vast majority of fairways do not represent a dispersal barrier for most species of frogs in New England.; (5) One of the most important scientific findings of this summer's research was that we documented non-random migration of metamorph frogs (e.g. newly transformed young) away from our monitored ponds. We established two 200-m long drift-fence arrays ~100 m to the east (habitat = woodlands) and west (habitat = woods and turf fields) of monitored ponds. Several species (Green Frog, Pickerel Frog, and Spotted Salamander) radiate out at random directions from breeding ponds. On the other hand, American Toads, Gray Tree Frogs, Spring Peeper, Wood Frogs, and Red-spotted Newts exhibited habitat preferences, most species were more likely to move through wooded habitats. This suggests that among some species of frogs, metamorphs have an innate genetic predisposition to migrate in specific directions. This has very important implications for management strategies.; (6) Proposed research for 1999: Future funding for this research project during the 1999 field season will be used to support three types of investigations: (1) we will continue monitoring natural movement patterns amphibians in the North Woods study site (this research will focus on adult movements to/from breeding sites, which was missed during the 1998 field season); (2) a series of experiments will be conducted in the North Woods area to further refine our knowledge of habitat characteristics of amphibian movement corridors, and (3) we propose to initiate a large-scale quantitative survey of the habitat characteristics of breeding sites used by amphibians on golf courses on southern New England, including habitat characteristics of potential movement corridors." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| See Also: | See also related summary article "Developing methods to enhance amphibian diversity on golf courses: Effects of golf course construction on amphibian movements and population size" 1998 Turfgrass and Environmental Research Summary [USGA], 1998, p. 66, R=61871. R=61871 |
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| Note: | Also appears as pp. 781-797, 803-807 in the USGA Turfgrass Research Committee Reporting Binders for 1998.
"15 October 1998"
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Last checked: 10/24/2013
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