The Cariboo Underworld
Amphibians in the Clearcuts and Forests
ABSTRACT
Terrestrial amphibians were surveyed in the Interior Douglas-fir. Sub-Boreal Spruce. and Interior Cedar-Hemlock biogeoclimatic zones in the area surrounding Williams Lake, and numbers were compared in adjacent clearcut and forested areas. Four species, the Long-Toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum)~ the Westem Toad (Bufo boleas). the Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica), the Pacific Treefrog (Hyla r egilla) were found in the area. Some interesting colour variations were observed in the salamander populations. All species were as abundant in clearcuts as in adjacent areas. Possible explanations for this observation are presented. Clearcuts may have been wetter or temporarily had more coarse woody debris than adjacent forests, even though coarse woody debris levels might be expected to decline over subsequent rotations with continued timber harvesting.
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