Abstract Despite occupying small land areas, riparian systems provision a large number of vertebrates, including amphibians, one of the most threatened vertebrate taxa. We associated capture rates of a fossorial desert anuran (Scaphiopus couchii) to non-native plant invasion and shrub encroachment via soil traits and habitat physiognomy in native, invaded, and shrub-encroached riparian habitats in the Sonoran Desert. We measured habitat and anurans at 18 sites along the San Pedro and Gila Rivers in three stand types based on dominant trees, cottonwood-willow forest (Populus-Salix), mesquite woodland (Prosopis), and non-native saltcedar stands (Tamarix). Dominant tree species were useful descriptors of habitat physiognomy. Spadefoots were associated with xeroriparian habitat at Prosopis sites and nearly absent from Tamarix sites. Soil moisture and texture heavily influenced spadefoot partitioning across forest types. Altering in-stream flow has modified riparian areas by causing xerification, Prosopis expansion, and proliferation of non-native species. The effects of Prosopis encroachment on this fossorial anuran may be less than Tamarix invasion, which could be deleterious to many anurans. We suggest monitoring vulnerable amphibians and conservation measures to preserve native riparian habitat.

中文翻译：

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索诺兰沙漠河岸森林化石蟾蜍的栖息地和土壤关联

摘要 尽管占用土地面积小，河岸系统提供了大量的脊椎动物，包括两栖动物，这是最受威胁的脊椎动物类群之一。我们通过索诺兰沙漠中原生、入侵和灌木侵占的河岸栖息地的土壤特征和栖息地地貌，将化石沙漠无尾蜈蚣（Scaphiopus couchii）的捕获率与非本地植物入侵和灌木侵占联系起来。我们测量了圣佩德罗河和吉拉河沿岸 18 个地点的栖息地和无尾蕨，分为三种林分类型，这些林分类型基于优势树、杨柳林 (Populus-Salix)、豆科灌木林地 (Prosopis) 和非本地盐雪松林 (Tamarix)。优势树种是栖息地地貌的有用描述符。Spadefoots 与 Prosopis 站点的干河岸栖息地有关，而 Tamarix 站点几乎没有。土壤水分和质地严重影响了不同森林类型的铲足划分。改变河流内的水流，导致干化、Prosopis 扩张和非本地物种的增殖，从而改变了河岸地区。Prosopis 侵占对这种无尾猿的影响可能小于柽柳入侵，这可能对许多无尾猿有害。我们建议监测脆弱的两栖动物和保护措施，以保护本地河岸栖息地。