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Herpetofauna Survey of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

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Herpetofauna Survey of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Herpetofauna Survey of Obed Wild and Scenic River Leslie S. Meade Third Rock Consultants, LLC 2514 Regency Road, Suite 104 Lexington, KY 40503 April 2005 Cooperative Agreement H5028 02 A424 National Park Service Appalachian Highlands Network 199 Hemphill Knob Road Asheville, NC 28803 i. Table of Contents Page List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ 3 List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................4 List of Appendices ..........................................................................................................................5 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................................7 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................8 Study Area ......................................................................................................................................9 Methods ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Results ...........................................................................................................................................17 Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 23 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 25 Literature Cited .............................................................................................................................26 2 ii. List of Figures Page Figure 1. Outline map of Obed Wild and Scenic River .............................................................. 10 Figure 2. Map of Obed Wild and Scenic River .......................................................................... 13 3 iii. List of Tables Page Table 1. Amphibians and reptiles of Obed Wild and Scenic River based on an inventory study conducted in 2003 and 2004 ......................................................................................................... 18 Table 2. Species captures and observations by sampling method and habitat type at Obed Wild and Scenic River in 2003 and 2004. ............................................................................................. 19 Table 3. Comparison of capture and observation totals of different sampling methods at Obed Wild and Scenic River in 2003 and 2004 ..................................................................................... 22 Table 4. Relative abundance of observed species based on field observations and professional experience ..................................................................................................................................... 24 4 iv. List of Appendices Page Appendix A. Expected, possible, and unlikely amphibian and reptile list of Obed Wild and Scenic River .................................................................................................................................... 28 Appendix B. Photographs of species ............................................................................................. 30 5 v. Summary This report summarizes results of an amphibian and reptile survey conducted from October 2003 through August 2004 at Obed Wild and Scenic River. Previously selected random plots, together with specialized habitats were searched for amphibians and reptiles. Specialized habitats included dry and wet cliffs and a large boulder field. A total of 147 individual amphibians and reptiles (excluding frog choruses and egg clusters) representing 33 species were recorded using area-constrained searches of random plots and specialized habitats, placement of artificial cover boards, night frog vocalization surveys, incidental observations, and placement of a wood and mesh box funnel trap (snake trap). Observed species included 10 salamanders, 9 frogs and toads, 9 snakes, 3 lizards, and 2 turtles. 6 vi. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Amanda Byron for her assistance with fieldwork for this study. I also would like to thank Nancy Keohane of Obed Wild and Scenic River for her support and excitement during this project. A special thanks goes to Nathan Helton, Audie Critchley, and Matt Hudson, who checked the snake trap and photographed captures during the spring and summer. This project would not have been possible without funding provided by Appalachian Highlands Inventory and Monitoring Network. 7 1. Introduction National wild and scenic rivers represent unique, relatively undisturbed environments that support a diverse fauna. Accurate inventory information regarding the distribution, abundance, and habitat relationships of this fauna is essential for the management and protection of these natural resources. To this end, the National Park Service (NPS) has created inventory and monitoring networks to gather this necessary information. These networks encompass NPS properties with similar resources and management issues within a specific geographical area. The Appalachian Highlands Network consists of 4 parks and includes Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI). This report covers the results of an 11-month inventory study of the reptiles and amphibians of OBRI. Goals of this study were to document the occurrence of at least 90 percent of the reptile and amphibian species likely to occur in the park and describe this herpetofauna in terms of its distribution, habitat usage, and relative abundance. A comprehensive survey approach was used to encompass not only the extensive vegetation cover types but also minor habitats that contribute to species richness. There is little available information regarding the herpetofauna of OBRI. Past herpetological studies from the Cumberland Plateau area include a study of the herpetofauna of the Obed River drainage (Gentry 1941) and a herpetofauna study of potential natural areas in the eastern upper Cumberland River drainage (Echternacht 1979). These studies were conducted in areas west and north of OBRI. Taylor et al. (1981) provided the first comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles in OBRI and the surrounding area. This study provided useful species location information that was used as a starting point for species documentation in this survey. 8 2. Study Area The Obed Wild and Scenic River is located on the Cumberland Plateau of east-central Tennessee and flows along the borders of Morgan and Cumberland Counties (Figure 1). It is comprised of segments of the Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddy’s Creek, and Emory River and flows over 45 miles through rugged and undeveloped terrain. Numerous other small streams and creeks flow into these larger water bodies. Over time these streams have cut into the sandstone of the Cumberland Plateau, carving magnificent gorges with 400-foot cliffs. Many rockshelters have been formed under the sandstone ledges. Large boulder fields can be found along the banks and large boulders lie in the streambeds, creating rapids. The Obed Wild and Scenic River was included into the Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1976 and became a unit of the NPS, making it one of only nine Wild and Scenic Rivers authorized in the Southeastern United States. The flow of the streams within OBRI is uncontrolled and varies radically from season to season. Water flows of several thousand cubic feet per second are normal during the cold rainy season from December to April. During late summer and early fall, water levels usually fall to several hundred cubic feet per second. Stream bottoms are dominated by cobble, boulder, and gravel and are typically stable. OBRI is located within the Cumberland Plateau ecoregion, which is a physiographic region of the Southwestern Appalachians. This region is located between the Ridge and Valley ecoregion to the east and the Interior Plateau to the west. Tablelands and open low mountains, which are roughly 1000 feet higher than the Interior Plateau ecoregion, characterize the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee. This difference in elevation causes the Cumberland Plateau to receive slightly more precipitation with cooler annual temperatures. Compared to the Cumberland Mountains, the plateau is less dissected with lower relief. Elevations are typically 1000 to 2000 feet, with some parts of the plateau reaching above 3000 feet. The well-drained, acidic soils of this ecoregion are of low fertility, covered by forest, with some agriculture and coal mining activities. Pennsylvanian conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and shale underlie this area (Griffith et al. 1997). 9 Fentress OBRI Boundary County Morgan County Cumberland County Figure 1. Outline Map of Obed Wild and Scenic River 10 Two large river systems found in the Cumberland Plateau are the Clear Fork-Big South Fork and the Obed-Emory. These river systems flow in shallow gorges in their upper reaches and are increasingly entrenched downstream. Much of the vertical drop is accounted for by high sandstone bluffs, like those in the eastern portion of OBRI. These bluffs have made OBRI an attractive rock-climbing
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