Factors influencing wetland reptile and amphibian community composition

Purpose: To quantify Reptile and Amphibian community assemblages in freshwater
wetlands and determine biotic and abiotic factors e.g., wetland permanence and presence of large
fish that may influence assemblage structure. Methods: Wetland Reptile and Amphibians were
monitored via passive trapping at 20 wetland sites at Jonathan Dickinson State Park JDSP in
Hobe Sound, FL. Trapping at JDSP occurred over a single wet season June-November period
and community assemblages were analyzed statistically using multivariate techniques. Results:
Hierarchical clustering revealed two primary assemblages, which included 70 of wetlands. One
assemblage, typical in wetlands containing large-bodied fish, consisted of two or three snake
species and low abundances of anurans in the family Ranidae. The second assemblage, typical of
fishless wetlands, generally had abundant anurans in the families Hylidae and Ranidae.
Conclusion: Though distance from other wetlands as well as wetland permanence also influenced
assemblage structure, fish presence/absence was a larger determinant of herpetofaunal
communities.