Douglas-fir forests in the Oregon and Washington Cascades: relation of the herpetofauna to stand age and moisture

Pitfall traps effectively sampled amphibians but not reptiles in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests. The abundance of only one amphibian species varied across an age gradient or a moisture gradient. Salamanders and frogs that breed in ponds or streams were captured in large numbers in some stands, likely due to the presence of nearby breeding habitat rather than forest conditions. Lizards occurred mostly in dry stands and clearcuts. Time-constrained searches showed different use of downed woody debris among terrestrial salamanders. The occurrence and abundance of species in naturally regenerated forests markedly differed from clearcut stands.