Anuran responses to land cover in a historically mined anthropogenic landscape

Anthropogenic changes to landscapes (e.g. urbanization, agriculture, surface mining) can create a mosaic of habitats that can influence amphibian populations and communities to varying degrees. Our study aimed to assess the connection between landscape composition and its effects on anuran communities and occupancy of conservation priority species in a region with both historical and modern habitat disturbances. We conducted call surveys six times across 65 sites in southeast Kansas from mid-March to mid-June in 2021 and 2022. Using linear models, we identified land cover associations between species richness and diversity and fit single-species static occupancy models for two conservation priority species within our study region: Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates areolatus Baird and Girard, 1852) and Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer Wied-Neuwied, 1838). Species richness (chao1) and Shannon diversity had a slight positive relationship with developed cover and water. Spring Peeper occupancy was positively associated with forest cover and negatively associated with water, but no relationships were found for Crawfish Frog occupancy. Landscape composition can affect anuran community persistence in a region shaped by a legacy of surface mining and a mosaic of anthropogenic land cover and uses. While the presence of open water or urbanization may create heterogeneity that promotes diversity overall, conservation-priority species may have specific habitat requirements that require targeted habitat management.