Habitat correlates of five amphibian species and of species-richness in a wetland system in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

We investigated the habitat correlates of five amphibian species and species-richness in freshwater ponds at a wetland site in New South Wales, Australia. The objective was to produce a simple model useful to wildlife managers in the area wishing to construct new ponds for the purpose of amphibian conservation. 43 ponds were surveyed in which we found 2-8 species. We recorded 35 habitat variables, and reduced these to a simpler set of non-correlated surrogate variables in Principle Component Analyses. Five species-specific models were constructed using logistic regression. Emergent vegetation, plant species diversity, pond water pH, salinity and bank slope were found to be predictor variables. A multiple regression analysis was used to investigate correlates associated with species richness. The species richness model showed larger ponds with a high proportion of surface area covered by emergent vegetation held most species of amphibian. There were no conflicts with the results from the species-specific models and the species richness model.