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Management practices, habitat restoration,
and conservation of amphibians and reptiles

Stephen J. Morreale 255-0237 sjm11@cornell.edu

Amphibians and reptiles are excellent indicators of ecosystem health and functioning and environmental quality. They occur in great numbers in a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats under conditions that range from pristine to highly disturbed. In many habitats of the Northeast they are the most well-represented vertebrates in terms of both sheer numbers and total biomass. Within our region many species of salamanders, frogs, snakes, and turtles are essential components of the biological community, functioning as predators and prey, as important links in the food web, and as conduits of energy between aquatic sites and the surrounding upland habitats. Because of their vital role and their prominence, the recent reported extinctions, deformities, and disappearances of amphibians and reptiles on a local and global scale have been of profound concern.

As a group, amphibians and reptiles are ideal for studying the effects of ecosystem degradation or enhancements due to global changes or to more local influences such as agricultural, management, and conservation practices. Their close association with both aquatic and terrestrial habitats often makes them very sensitive to broad-scale and local alterations within the environment. Thus, we have initiated a long-term research and conservation project designed to monitor the current ecological and environmental influences and to measure the effects of past and current forest management practices on the herpetofaunal community.

The studies will be concentrated within the nearby Arnot Forest, which is a large tract of protected land that is fairly representative of the majority of land in the Northeastern U.S. With its variety of aquatic, open, and forested habitats ranging from undisturbed to highly managed, Arnot Forest represents an ideal microcosm in which to conduct ecological studies. In addition, our long-term studies on amphibians and reptiles will have immediate and far-reaching impact on habitat management practices and biological conservation. For more information contact Stephen Morreale.