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Identifying amphibian habitats within a landscape provides a tool for managing their populations. I identified if and how amphibians used small ephemeral wetlands (≤ 0.1ha) and streams within the mixedwood forest area managed by Daishowa Marubeni International Ltd. near Peace River, north-western Alberta. Twenty-seven wetlands and their riparian zones were sampled for all life stages of amphibians in 2008 using timed visual encounter surveys. The riparian zones of 11 small streams were sampled with pitfall traps within 120 m of their beds from 2006 to 2008. Habitat features were also measured. Lithobates sylvaticus, Anaxyrus boreas and Pseudacris maculata used small ephemeral wetlands and the riparian zones of ephemeral, intermittent and permanent streams at different life stages. Water temperature and canopy cover influenced amphibian presence and abundance in wetlands. Coniferous and deciduous tree density were associated with L. sylvaticus abundance at the stream sites. I conclude that small waterbodies are amphibian habitats in the mixedwood forest of boreal Alberta. / Ecology

The conservation of aquatic-breeding amphibian populations and their habitats is increasingly challenged by urban and rural development, which is occurring more intensively and more rapidly than ever before. Some species are now impacted by development throughout their range. This has forced a re-evaluation of the potential of developed landscapes for providing habitat and contributing to regional conservation strategies. For many amphibians, little is known about the criteria necessary for persistence in a developed landscape. Considerable variation in the physiology, habitat requirements, and movement behaviour of amphibians suggests that responses to habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation are species-specific. In this thesis, I investigate species-habitat relationships for the northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora) and the Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) in a mixed urban-rural landscape in southwestern British Columbia to evaluate the potential for species persistence despite urban and rural development throughout their range. I used repeat auditory surveys of the species’ breeding chorus to determine presence or absence at potential breeding wetlands. I then related species occurrence and abundance to characteristics of the aquatic and terrestrial environment measured at multiple spatial scales. Both species were found to use rural and urban wetlands, though R. aurora were rarely detected while P. regilla were common. Occurrence was best explained by characteristics of the terrestrial environment, rather than within-wetland characteristics, though influential terrestrial characteristics and their scale of impact differed between species. Within the context of the developed landscape, I identify species-specific positive and negative habitat associations and suggest the spatial scales at which management of these habitat characteristics will be most effective. These criteria may help to explain the species’ current distribution, prioritize management strategies, predict the effectiveness of habitat conservation and restoration projects, and inform development in municipalities seeking to maintain or enhance amphibian diversity. / Graduate / 2019-09-11