Hyla andersoni in South Carolina 157 



The herbaceous species consisted of various grasses, sedges and forbs, 

 and in most cases Sphagnum spp. were present. One large clearcut had 

 developed into a broomsedge field uncharacteristic of the other clear- 

 cuts in the area. However, it had much relief and seepage and we found 

 H. andersoni at two localities there. 



Table 1. Dominant plant species in herb and shrub bogs where Pine Barrens 

 Treefrogs were found. 



Clethra alnifolia, sweet pepperbush Osmunda cinnamomea, cinnamon fern 



Smilax laurifolia, bamboo smilax Cyrilla racemiflora, titi (cyrilla) 



Magnolia virginiana, sweet bay Sphagnum spp., sphagnum moss 



Pinus taeda, loblolly pine Nyssa sylvatica, black gum 



Rhus vernix, poison sumac Liriodendron tulipifera, yellow poplar 



Arundinaria gigantea, switch cane Oxydendrum arboreum, sourwood 



Rhus copallina, winged sumac Acer rubrum, red maple 



Persea borbonia, red bay Ilex coriacea, sweet gallberry 



Calling Males 



In 1978 the number of calling males ranged from 1 to an estimated 

 100, with an estimated mean of 12 per locality. However, of the 41 

 localities, only 4 were estimated to have greater than 15 calling males. 

 During 1979 the range at the 26 sites was from 1 to an estimated 25, 

 with an estimated mean of 6 per locality. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Apparently H. andersoni, although restricted in range, is more 

 widely distributed in South Carolina than previously known. The area 

 we searched was only a small part of the total area of similar habitat in 

 South Carolina, and further research may reveal the presence of H. 

 andersoni in other counties where it is now unknown. 



Our observations suggest that H. andersoni quickly colonizes areas 

 of appropriate new habitat (clearcuts with seepages). Means and Moler 

 (1978) reported that clearcuts constitute good H. andersoni habitat, as 

 long as succession to a closed canopy is prohibited and pine monocul- 

 tures are not planted. Thus, as they suggested, there seems to be a 

 potential for maintaining, or even increasing suitable habitat for H. 

 andersoni in areas where suitable soil, topography, and groundwater 

 seepage exists. By applying habitat management practices such as pre- 

 scribed burning and selective logging and clearing, it is probable that 

 the open shrubby vegetative communities required by H. andersoni 

 could be sustained where currently existing, or restored where succes- 

 sion has progressed beyond the favorable stage. 



