Herpetofaunal Species Richness and Habitat Associations in an Eastern Kentucky Forest

Herpetofaunal species richness and species-habitat associations were estimated by pitfall and funnel-trap sampling in a conventional clearcut, a bestmanagement- practices (BMP) clearcut, forest wildlife clearings, and a mature forest. Species richness was lowest in the mature forest. Slimy salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus) were associated with steep slopes and dense shrub cover on clearcuts, redspotted newts (Notophthalamus viridescens, red eft form) with forest canopy, and American toads (Bufo americanus) with dense herbaceous cover in forest clearings. Pitfall and funnel-trap sampling did not effectively sample all herpetofaunal species.