Anuran responses to land cover in a historically mined anthropogenic landscape

Amphibian populations and communities are influenced to varying degrees by anthropogenic changes to landscapes (e.g., urbanization, agriculture, surface mining), as well as the heterogeneous habitat mosaics these land uses produce. Using call surveys, we examined the influence of land cover on anuran diversity and the occupancy of priority species in southeast Kansas, USA. Anuran diversity was positively associated with developed cover and water, while Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) were more likely to occupy sites with greater forest cover and lower availability of water sources. Despite a landscape largely dominated by anthropogenic land uses and a legacy of surface mining, we observed a diverse regional species pool likely supported by landscape heterogeneity. While management and restoration may enhance habitat suitability, our findings indicate that anurans can persist within and be supported by human-altered landscapes.