Historical changes in a herpetofaunal assemblage in the Flint Hills of Kansas

To assess changes in the herpetofauna in the northern Flint Hills of Kansas, we conducted a survey on the Fort Riley Military Reservation (Riley and Geary counties) in 1993 and compared our results with those of C. E. Burt and other early collectors. Of 46 species reported before 1930, 37 were found in 1993. Four species recorded before 1930 and not found in 1993 (Bufo cognatus, Carphophis vermis, Thamnophis radix and Crotalus horridus) are known or believed to persist in Riley and Geary counties. Four other species (Heterodon platirhinos, Nerodia erythrogaster, N. rhombifer and Regina grahamii) have not been reported in over 50 yr and may be extirpated locally. Two additional species (Spea bombifrons and Trachemys scripta) found in 1993 were not reported by early collectors. Changes in relative abundance of species from pre-1930 to 1993 were few and there was no evidence of decline in amphibian populations. With the exception of declines in species dependent on rare habitats located in the floodplain of major rivers, the herpetological assemblage in the Fort Riley area has changed little during the past 70-100 yr. We attribute this stability to land uses that have maintained large tracts of native vegetation.