Factors influencing herpetofaunal diversity on differing land ownership types in a human-dominated landscape

In recent decades, much attention has focused on the global decline of herpetofaunal populations throughout the world. Although all causes of declines have not been clearly determined, anthropogenic habitat modification including habitat loss and fragmentation is the best-documented cause of herpetofaunal declines, particularly amphibian declines. Because herpetofauna use multiple distinct habitats during their life cycle, they have the potential to be affected by a variety of factors. I investigated herpetofaunal community dynamics on differing land ownership types (public vs. private) in southern Michigan from 2005-2006 to determine (1) if differences between land ownerships and between sample years existed, (2) if local habitat and environmental conditions influence herpetofauna, and (3) if landscape pattern metrics could be used to describe herpetofaunal communities. Differences between land ownership types were not detected. Soil associations and warmer temperatures were found to influence richness and diversity, and percent canopy cover and distance to the nearest water body were important in structuring herpetofaunal communities. Herpetofauna exhibited significant relationships with surrounding landscape attributes including a positive association with wetland and forest cover, and a negative association with agriculture. My results demonstrate that conservation strategies will need to consider factors at multiple spatial scales to effectively understand existing and future herpetofaunal populations.