A Simple Conservation Tool to Aid Restoration of Amphibians following High-Severity Wildfires: Use of PVC Pipes by Green Tree Frogs (Hyla cinerea) in Central Texas, USA

Thanchira Suriyamongkol,Hsiao-Hsuan Wang,Ivana Mali,Andrea Villamizar-Gomez,Michael R J Forstner,Kaitlyn Forks,William E Grant

doi:10.3390/d13120649

Thanchira Suriyamongkol, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120649

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Abstract

Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class based on the IUCN Red List. Their decline has been linked to anthropogenic activities, with wildfires being among the most conspicuous agents of habitat alterations affecting native amphibians. In 2011, the most destructive wildfire in Texas history occurred in the Lost Pines ecoregion of central Texas, USA, burning 39% of the 34,400 ha forest and drastically decreasing available habitats for many native wildlife species, including the green tree frog (Hyla cinerea). We investigated use of PVC pipes as artificial refuges for green tree frogs in different habitats within this post-fire pine forest. We monitored green tree frog use of small (diameter 38.1-mm, 1.5 inch) and large (diameter 50.8-mm, 2 inch) pipes located adjacent to, and 5 m from, ponds in burned and unburned areas over a 5-month period. We caught 227 frogs, 101 (24 adults and 77 juveniles) in burned and 126 (61 adults, 63 juveniles, and 2 unknown) in unburned areas. A relationship between pipe use by adults and/or juveniles and pipe location in burned versus unburned areas was found, but pipe use by adults and/or juveniles and pipe size were independent. Pipe use by adults and/or juveniles and pipe size were also independent. Juveniles were more frequently observed in pipes located adjacent to ponds. Our results confirmed that PVC pipes merit consideration as a simple, inexpensive, conservation tool to aid in restoration of green tree frog populations after high-severity wildfires. Such artificial refuges may be particularly important for survival of juveniles in severely altered post-fire habitats.

Highlights

Amphibians are important components of ecosystems throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world [1]
Impose negative impacts on amphibian populations, habitat loss due to urbanization or high-severity wildfires is the primary reason for local population extirpation [2,12]
We investigated whether the use of PVC pipes by green tree frog adults and juveniles was related to: (1) pipe location in burned versus unburned areas, (2) pipe size, and/or

Summary

Introduction

Amphibians are important components of ecosystems throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world [1]. Impose negative impacts on amphibian populations, habitat loss due to urbanization or high-severity wildfires is the primary reason for local population extirpation [2,12]. This is because amphibian species have low migration rates, high mortality rates while moving across roadways, and narrow habitat tolerances [12]. With the number of threatened and endangered species of amphibians rising, researchers have been focusing on the Diversity 2021, 13, 649 across roadways, and narrow habitat tolerances [12]. Providing artificial refuges—such as PVC pipes [15,16], and their population sizes [13,14]. Providing artificial refuges—such as PVC pipes [15,16], bamboo [17], and coverboard [18]—is one of the conservation methods

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