Effect of Vegetation Maintenance of an Electric Transmission Right-Of-Way on Reptile and Amphibian Populations

Abstract

A 2-year study of reptile and amphibian populations was conducted on a 230-kV transmission line right-of-way (ROW) of GPU Energy in the Allegheny Mountain Physiographic Province, Centre County, Pennsylvania, U.S., from June through October 1998 and March through October 1999. The objective was to compare the diversity and relative abundance of reptiles and amphibians between the ROW versus the adjacent forest, among five treatment units on the ROW, and between wire and borders zones on treatments on the ROW. Nine species were recorded during the study, with the three most common species being redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), northern redbelly snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata), and northern ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii). All nine species occurred on the ROW, but only redback salamanders and Jefferson salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) were found in the adjacent forest. The diversity and relative abundance ranged from six species in the stem-foliage unit to three species in the handcutting unit. Eight and six species, respectively, were noted in the wire and border zones of the ROW. However, 81% of the observations in wire zones were those of snakes, whereas 85% of the observations in border zones were salamanders. The ROW contained a much more diverse community of reptiles and amphibians than the adjacent forest. Forest-management practices can have negative impacts on populations of amphibians and reptiles. Thus, this study provides important information on forest-management practices required for the conservation of reptiles and amphibians.