Model data to investigate wood frog abundance in 17-year post harvest variable retention mixed wood forests

Variable retention forest harvesting aims to reduce negative effect of harvesting on forest biodiversity, but its effectiveness is not well understood for many taxa. To better understand the effects of variable retention forest management and environmental features on amphibians, we used pitfall traps to capture wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) across 4 levels of retention harvest (clearcut [0%], 20%, 50%, and unharvested control [100%]), and 2 forest types (deciduous and coniferous), in 17-year post-harvest forests in northwest Alberta. We mapped breeding sites and used a terrain moisture index (Depth-to-Water) derived from airborne LiDAR to examine relationships between relative abundance, breeding site proximity and soil moisture. Retention level alone had no effect on relative abundance, but in late summer (July and August) there was a significant interaction between retention level and forest type: capture rates decreased with amount of retention for deciduous forests, but increa...