Influence of wetland hydroperiod on diversity and abundance of metamorphosing juvenile amphibians

JosephH.K. Pechmann; DavidE. Scott; J. Whitfield Gibbons; RaymondD. Semlitsch

doi:10.1007/bf00177885

Forest restoration increases isolated wetland hydroperiod: a long‐term case study

Ecosphere ◽

10.1002/ecs2.3495 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

Author(s):

S. W. Golladay ◽

B. A. Clayton ◽

S. T. Brantley ◽

C. R. Smith ◽

J. Qi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Restoration ◽

Isolated Wetland ◽

Wetland Hydroperiod

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Water-stained leaves: formation and application as a field indicator of wetland hydrology

Wetlands ◽

10.1007/s13157-021-01498-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Jacob F. Berkowitz ◽

Jason P. Pietroski

Keyword(s):

Wetland Hydrology ◽

The United States ◽

Wetland Delineation ◽

Continuous Exposure ◽

Anaerobic Conditions ◽

Leaf Color ◽

Proxy Measure ◽

Wetland Hydroperiod ◽

Upland Conditions ◽

Field Indicators

AbstractWetland delineations conducted in the United States utilize field indicators as proxy measures of the presence or absence of wetland hydrology. Water-stained leaves provide a practical, qualitative field indicator of wetland hydrology; however, the formation of water-stained leaves has not been elucidated. In response, leaves from six tree species were examined under five treatments to investigate the water-staining process and concomitant timeframes. Results indicate that leaf staining occurred within 14-21 days of continuous exposure to wetland waters and sediment under both laboratory and field conditions. Leaf staining was characterized by readily observable shifts in leaf color (i.e., decreasing Munsell hue, value, and chroma) causing the leaves to appear very dark or black. No color shifts associated with leaf staining occurred in treatments exposed to upland conditions. The timeframe associated with leaf staining corresponds with established wetland hydrology criteria requiring a minimum hydroperiod of 14 consecutive days of soil saturation, flooding, or ponding. Leaves exposed to wetland waters and sediment underwent color shifts significantly faster and to a greater extent than leaves inundated with deionized water, likely as a result of increased microbial abundance and the presence of anaerobic conditions in the simulated wetland treatments. Results suggest that water-stained leaves 1) are a useful and reliable wetland hydrology field indicator for wetland delineation purposes, 2) may provide a proxy measure of wetland hydroperiod, and 3) Munsell color measurements can help differentiate between leaves exposed to wetland and upland conditions.

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The relationship between wetland hydroperiod and nestedness patterns in assemblages of larval amphibians and predatory macroinvertebrates

Oikos ◽

10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12968.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 107 (1) ◽

pp. 16-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Matthew J. Baber ◽

Erica Fleishman ◽

Kimberly J. Babbitt ◽

Tracy L. Tarr

Keyword(s):

Larval Amphibians ◽

Wetland Hydroperiod ◽

The Relationship

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Manipulating wetland hydroperiod to improve occupancy rates by an endangered amphibian: modelling management scenarios

Journal of Applied Ecology ◽

10.1111/1365-2664.12729 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 53 (6) ◽

pp. 1842-1851 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Andrew J. Hamer ◽

Geoffrey W. Heard ◽

Jake Urlus ◽

Jonathon Ricciardello ◽

Bernadette Schmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Scenarios ◽

Wetland Hydroperiod ◽

Occupancy Rates

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Ecological correlates of trophic polyphenism in spadefoot tadpoles inhabiting playas

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z09-006 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 229-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

D. M. Ghioca-Robrecht ◽

L. M. Smith ◽

L. D. Densmore

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Water Depth ◽

Water Loss ◽

Larval Amphibians ◽

Spadefoot Toads ◽

Amphibian Community ◽

Grassland Type ◽

Shrimp Density ◽

Spea Bombifrons ◽

Wetland Hydroperiod

Polyphenism in larval amphibians has been related to several factors, including wetland hydroperiod, food availability, competition, and predation. Spadefoot toads (genus Spea Cope, 1866) often exhibit a trophic polyphenism by developing distinct carnivore and omnivore larval morphotypes. Using a multimodel selection approach, we investigated the influence of land use (cropland vs. grassland type) and differences in annual precipitation on morphotype expression in Plains spadefoot ( Spea bombifrons (Cope, 1863)) and New Mexico spadefoot ( Spea multiplicata (Cope, 1863)) toads in playas. We also examined the relative importance of tadpole density, tadpole age, water-loss stress, wetland size, density of larval mole salamanders (genus Ambystoma Tschudi, 1838; a predator on Spea tadpoles), and food resources on morph occurrence. The carnivore morphotype developed almost exclusively in S. bombifrons and rarely in S. multiplicata regardless of land use. Habitat availability measured by water-loss rate, as well as predation risk and tadpole age, were the most important factors influencing carnivore proportions. Ambystoma density was positively associated, whereas water-depth loss and tadpole age were negatively associated with the proportion of carnivores. The greatest proportion of carnivores was observed in grassland playas, which had the highest density of Ambystoma predators, longest hydroperiods, and experienced water-depth gain. Fairy shrimp density was not correlated with the proportion of carnivores. Upland land use through cultivation-associated erosion is altering wetland trophic structure, which further influences morphotype expression in Spea tadpoles and playa amphibian community structure.

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