Habitat characteristics associated with wood frog ( Rana sylvatica) abundance in an agriculturally fragmented landscape

In Central Alberta, Canada, agricultural landscapes with scattered patches of fragmented wetlands are common. To investigate the relationship between wood frog (Rana sylvatica) abundance and wetland, woodlot, and landscape characteristics, twelve permanent fish free wetlands were intensively sampled. Pitfall arrays were used to capture wood frogs during June 21 st to July 11th 2004 and July 21st to August 11th 2004.;Abundance numbers were examined for relationships between various biotic and abiotic characteristics. The characteristics were categorized into three groups that consisted of wetland characteristics (circumference, water pH), surrounding wetland characteristics (woodlot circumference, proportion of woodlot circumference, average woodlot width, and woodlot area), and woodlot characteristics (CBH, DWM, litter depth, soil moisture, soil pH).;Results showed a strong correlation to all surrounding wetland characteristics. It was concluded that a woodlot circumference of 196 m, a proportion of woodlot to wetland circumference of 0.52 or 52 percent and a surrounding woodlot volume of 1768.4 m2 were ideal minimums for maximizing wood frog abundance.