Herpetofaunal Diversity of the Four Holes Swamp, South Carolina

A survey of the amphibians and reptiles in a sanctuary in the Four Holes Swamp, South Carolina, in 1976 revealed 62 species. An additional 27 species may have been residents. Species diversity and abundance were greatest in upland areas around the swamp and lowest on the oak flats that are often regarded as the most valuable swamp habitats. A few species were restricted to cypress creeks. Springs on the bluffs that border the swamp favor several species, including some species that are more common in cooler regions. The results of the survey were evaluated based on 50-year trends in population sizes of amphibian and reptilian species at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland and on 40-year trends in population sizes of amphibian and reptilian species on the University of Kansas Fitch Natural History Reservation to predict the possible consequences of different kinds of management. Conservation goals for the Four Holes Swamp should be based on the role of the swamp in the broader landscape.