Amphibian reproductive success as a gauge of functional equivalency of created wetlands in the Central Appalachians

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel F. Strain ◽  
Philip J. Turk ◽  
Jordan Helmick ◽  
James T. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curves ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Wetland Mitigation ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Created Wetlands ◽  
Green Frog ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Wetland Type ◽  
Natural Wetlands

Context Evaluating the adequacy of created wetlands to replace the functions of lost natural wetlands is important because wetland mitigation is a major tool used to offset wetland losses. However, measurements such as vegetative cover and presence of wildlife may not provide sufficient evidence that created wetlands are functioning properly. Thus, examining the ecology of wetland biota such as that of amphibians may be a more useful surrogate for function. Aims The objectives of this study were to compare the abundance of amphibian metamorphs and survival and growth of larval amphibians in created wetlands, relative to natural wetlands. Methods Amphibian metamorphs were trapped in created and natural wetlands during the spring (April–May) and summer (June–August) of 2009 and 2010, and 165 green frog (Lithobates clamitans) larvae were raised during the spring of 2010 in laboratory aquaria containing water from created or natural wetlands. Key results Abundance of spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) metamorphs decreased significantly from 2009 to 2010 and abundance of green frog metamorphs increased with habitat complexity, but both were unaffected by wetland type. Detection probability of metamorphs of both species was low, increased with water temperature and declined with month of observation. Survival, growth curves and mass were similar among green frog larvae raised in created and natural wetland aquaria. Conclusions Our results suggest that the created and natural wetlands we examined function similarly with respect to providing adequate breeding habitat for green frogs and spring peepers. Implications Wetlands created to offset the loss of natural wetlands, although generally not designed for the purpose of wildlife habitat, can function as adequate breeding habitat for generalist amphibians such as green frogs and spring peepers.

Relationships between gregarine infection in damselflies, wetland type, and landscape characteristics

2011 ◽  
Vol 143 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia J. Mlynarek ◽  
Daniel G. Bert ◽  
G. Haydeé Peralta-Vázquez ◽  
Joanna A. James ◽  
Mark R. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Road Density ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Artificial Wetlands ◽  
Wetland Type ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Ischnura Verticalis ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Wetland Cover

AbstractAlthough human-modified landscapes are characterized by the loss of natural habitats, new habitats also can be created and exploited by many species. The importance of landscape change to invertebrate associations (particularly host-parasite associations) is understudied. Our objective was to determine whether prevalence and intensity of gregarine parasitism in the damselfly Ischnura verticalis (Say) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) differed between 17 artificial and 7 natural wetlands in landscapes that varied in amount of forest and wetland cover and road density determined at spatial extents of 500m and 1km from each wetland. Wetlands were located in and around Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Wetland type did not account for significant variation in principal components based on forest and wetland cover and road density at either spatial extent. Gregarine prevalence was higher in damselflies collected from natural wetlands than in those collected from artificial wetlands and was positively associated with increasing forest cover. In contrast, gregarine intensity was inversely related to road density. Our results suggest that parasitism of damselflies by gregarines is associated with wetland type and landscape characteristics, although the mechanisms producing such relationships are unknown.

scholarly journals A Study of Forest Swamp Mapping in Hani Wetland Integrating Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Satellite Images

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingfa Wang
Keyword(s):  
Information Extraction ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Kappa Coefficient ◽  
Artificial Wetlands ◽  
Wetland Type ◽  
Red Edge ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Landscape Types ◽  
Sentinel 2

As a unique wetland type, forest swamps play an important role in regional carbon cycling and biodiversity conservation. Taking Hani wetland in Jilin province as the research object, we integrated the application of Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 multispectral images, fully exploited the potential of Sentinel-1 multi-polarization band features and Sentinel-2 red edge index for forest swamp remote sensing identification, and applied the random forest method to realize the extraction of forest swamp distribution information of Hani wetland. The results show that when the optimal number of decision trees for forest swamp information extraction is 1200, the fusion of Sentinel-1VV and VH backscattering coefficient radar band features and Sentinel-2 red-edge band features can significantly improve the extraction accuracy of forest swamp distribution information, and the overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of forest swamp information extraction in protected areas are as high as 89% and 0.85, respectively. The overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of forest swamp information extraction in the protected area were 89% and 0.85, respectively. The landscape types of Hani Wetlands of International Importance are diversified, with natural wetlands, artificial wetlands and non-wetland landscape types co-existing. Among the natural wetland types, the forest swamp has the largest area of 27.1 km2, accounting for 11.2% of the total area of the reserve; the river has the smallest area of 0.7 km2, accounting for 0.3% of the total area of the reserve. The forest swamp extraction method provides data support for the sustainable management of Hani wetlands and case guidance for forest swamp mapping in other regions.

scholarly journals Stand Structures and Height Growth Patterns in Northern White Cedar Stands on Wet Sites in Vermont

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Hannah
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
White Cedar ◽  
Habitat Integrity ◽  
Northern White Cedar

Abstract The structure and growth of northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) was studied in 16 stands on wet sites in Vermont. White cedar and associate species representing the range in diameter were felled for stem analysis. Height growth curves were constructed. Structure of white cedar stands on wet sites in Vermont is often even-aged with a relatively uniform canopy due to restocking of former agricultural land, or two-aged, or multiaged, depending on degree of harvesting and other disturbances. On bog and swamp sites, cedar may reach less than 25 ft in height in 50 years whereas on upland sites wet only a portion of the growing season, they may reach 50 ft or greater in height. On well-drained upland sites, height growth may be greater, but cedar most likely may be displaced by other conifers and hardwoods. Basal area in pure and well-stocked maturing stands may exceed 300 ft2, and volumes can exceed 12,000 ft3/ac. In high-density stands, there is usually little understory. Very small amounts of cedar regeneration were observed in the stands studied. Some of the stands had a distinct browse line, and deer are presumed to have a major impact on cedar regeneration. All cedar stands are recognized as being of great importance as deer wintering areas. On the low-quality swamp and bog sites, minimal and careful harvest of cedar should be done to maintain deer habitat, integrity of the tree canopy, and associated understory vegetation. On sites with less water restrictions than in swamps and bogs, harvesting practices to maintain wildlife habitat and assure regeneration and thinning and pruning to improve growth rate and value of harvested wood should be considered. North. J. Appl. For. 21(4):173–179.

Wildlife habitat and public use benefits of treatment wetlands

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Treatment Wetlands ◽  
Ancillary Benefits ◽  
Wildlife Use ◽  
Normal Ranges ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
The Relationship

Constructed and natural wetlands are being utilized for water quality management of a broad variety of wastewater types worldwide. While water treatment is a primary goal of many of these systems, there is a general recognition that ancillary benefits for public use and wildlife habitat are typical of some of these wetlands. Also, there are growing numbers of constructed wetlands that are primarily focused on providing habitat and/or public use while relying on pretreated wastewater as the principal water supply. Efforts are currently underway to document the normal ranges of human and wildlife use benefits of treatment wetlands, and to provide a reasoned assessment of the potential environmental risks associated with these systems. Information collected from existing surface-flow treatment wetlands indicates consistent net benefits for wildlife habitat and public use. An understanding of the relationship between design and operation of treatment wetlands, and their positive and negative ecological and societal responses, will allow for optimization of new wetland systems.

scholarly journals Exposure to Anthropogenic Activities and Age Class Mediate Movement-Explicit Habitat Selection of A Mesocarnivore in A Human-Dominated Landscape

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel Serieys ◽  
Jacqueline M Bishop ◽  
Matthew S Rogan ◽  
Justine A Smith ◽  
Jusin P Suraci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Natural Boundary ◽  
Age Class ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Background: Wildlife populations are increasingly challenged by human activities that disrupt landscape connectivity and animal movement, and thus population dynamics and persistence. Yet modified habitats may provide resource subsidies for generalist species resulting in increased selection of disturbed areas. Understanding how species adjust their space use and activity in human-modified landscapes is increasingly critical to conserving wildlife populations globally. Methods: To test three competing hypotheses explaining spatiotemporal responses to human activity, we GPS-collared 26 individual adults and subadults from three contiguous subpopulations in wildland and urban-dominated regions. We investigated coarse (3 hour)- and fine (20 minute)- scale movement-explicit habitat selection using step selection functions and tested for increased nocturnality of caracals (Caracal caracal) in a human-dominated landscape in South Africa. Results: Caracals in a wildland-dominated landscape were on average > 8.0 km from the urban-natural boundary and strongly selected for proximity to the coastline. Caracals in the urban-dominated landscape were on average <500 m from the urban-natural boundary, yet strongly avoided areas within the urban matrix itself while selecting for close proximity to the urban-natural boundary. Caracals avoided vegetative cover in the wildland-dominated region but selected for vegetative cover in the urban-dominated region, likely to conceal themselves from detection by humans. Selection responses for vineyards, freshwater, the coast, and burned areas was dependent on age class, diel period, and whether individuals were in close proximity to urban areas. Caracals inhabiting the urban-dominated region did not shift their temporal activity patterns to avoid contact with humans, but they selected for closer proximity to urban areas at night, suggesting they seek spatial refugia during the day. Conclusions: Behavioral plasticity whereby individuals seek out spatial, but not temporal refugia, appears to promote the coexistence of this generalist carnivore in a human-dominated landscape. Both age class and degree of exposure to anthropogenic activities influence habitat selection, while some individuals have learned to successfully exploit the riskiest areas at night. These data are essential to our understanding of what is viable wildlife habitat in this rapidly urbanizing landscape and provide opportunities to guide land acquisition and conservation guidelines by local management agencies.

Beltway 8 Wetland Water Quality Project: Constructed Wetlands for Storm Water Polishing and Wetland Mitigation Banking

1998 ◽  
Vol 1626 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Knight ◽  
Robert Adams ◽  
Colleen O’Brien ◽  
Eduardo R. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Flood Control ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Wetland Mitigation ◽  
Storm Water ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Water Quality Improvement ◽  
Pump Station ◽  
Natural Treatment

The Harris County Flood Control District is implementing a wetland mitigation bank project that includes highway runoff as a significant water source. Part of this project is being implemented in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation through funding from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act for water quality improvement. This collaborative effort includes treatment and final polishing of storm water runoff from a portion of Beltway 8, northeast of Houston, Texas. The project includes approximately 89 ha (220 acres) of storm water-polishing wetlands and associated wildlife habitat. The overall train of natural treatment processes includes a tie-in to the existing beltway storm sewer, a surge basin for initial collection and storage of storm water, a pump station and force mail allowing flexible water delivery to the rest of the system, a series of polishing ponds and polishing wetland marshes, and an interconnected array of habitat wetlands and swales including ponds, littoral marshes, and transitional wetland forest areas. Design of the polishing and treatment wetlands balances the multiple goals of water quality improvement, flood-flow retention, and creation of valuable wildlife habitat.

The ecological value of constructed wetlands for treating urban runoff

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pankratz ◽  
T. Young ◽  
H. Cuevas-Arellano ◽  
R. Kumar ◽  
R.F. Ambrose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Urban Runoff ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Added Benefit ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Town ◽  
Uptake Of Nutrients

The Sweetwater Authority's urban runoff diversion system (URDS) comprises constructed wetlands on a hillside between the town of Spring Valley and the Sweetwater Reservoir, California, USA. The URDS were designed to divert dry-weather and first-flush urban runoff flows from the Sweetwater reservoir. However, these constructed wetlands have developed into ecologically valuable habitat. This paper evaluates the following ecological questions related to the URDS: (1) the natural development of the species present and their growth pattern; (2) the biodiversity and pollutant stress on the plants and invertebrates; and (3) the question of habitat provided for endangered species. The URDS wetlands are comprised primarily of rush (Scirpus spp.) and cattails (Typha spp.). This vegetative cover ranged from 39–78% of the area of the individual wetland ponds. Current analyses of plant tissues and wetland sediment indicates the importance of sediment sorption for metals and plant uptake of nutrients. Analyses of URDS water following runoff events show the URDS wetlands do reduce the amount of nutrients and metals in the water column. Invertebrate surveys of the wetland ponds revealed lower habitat quality and environmental stress compared to unpolluted natural habitat. The value of the wetlands as wildlife habitat is constrained by low plant biodiversity and pollution stress from the runoff. Since the primary Sweetwater Authority goal is to maintain good water quality for drinking, any secondary utilization of URDS habitat by species (endangered or otherwise) is deemed an added benefit.

Evaluation of two process-based models used to estimate global CH4 emissions from natural wetlands

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Li
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Wetland ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Wetland Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Flux Measurements ◽  
Model Efficiency ◽  
Global Emissions ◽  
Wetland Types ◽  
Process Based Models

&lt;p&gt;Reliable models are required to estimate global wetland CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions. This study aimed to test two process-based models, CH4MOD&lt;sub&gt;wetland&lt;/sub&gt; and TEM, against the CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; flux measurements of marsh, swamps, peatland and coastal wetland sites across the world; specifically, model accuracy and generality were evaluated for different wetland types and in different continents, and then the global CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions from 2000 to 2010 were estimated. Both models showed similar high correlations with the observed seasonal CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions, and the regression of the observed versus computed total seasonal CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions resulted in R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; values of 0.78 and 0.72 by CH4MOD&lt;sub&gt;wetland&lt;/sub&gt; and TEM, respectively. The CH4MOD&lt;sub&gt;wetland&lt;/sub&gt; predicted more accurately in marsh, peatland and coastal wetlands, with model efficiency (EF) values of 0.22, 0.55 and 0.72, respectively; however, the model showed poor performance in swamps (EF&lt;0). The TEM model predicted better in peatland and swamp, with EF values of 0.77 and 0.71, respectively, but it could not accurately simulate the marsh and coastal wetland (EF&lt;0). There was a good correlation between the simulated CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; fluxes and the observed values on most continents. However, CH4MOD&lt;sub&gt;wetland&lt;/sub&gt; showed no correlation with the observed values in South America and Africa. TEM showed no correlation with the observations in Europe. The global CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions for the period 2000&amp;#173;&amp;#173;&amp;#8211;2010 were estimated to be 105.31&amp;#177;2.72 Tg yr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; by CH4MOD&lt;sub&gt;wetland&lt;/sub&gt; and 134.31&amp;#177;0.84 Tg yr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; by TEM. Both models simulated a similar spatial distribution of CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions across the world and among continents. Marsh contributes 36%&amp;#8211;39% to global CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions. Lakes and rivers and swamp are the second and third contributors, respectively. Other wetland types account for only approximately 20% of global emissions. Based on the models&amp;#8217; generality, if we use the more accurate model to estimate each continent/wetland type, we obtain a new assessment of 116.99&amp;#8211;124.74 Tg yr&lt;sup&gt;-1 &lt;/sup&gt;for the global CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions for the period 2000&amp;#8211;2010.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Impact of Irrigation Cessation on Wetland Communities within the Elk Ranch, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Clayton Marlow ◽  
Sarah Summerford
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Wetland Mitigation ◽  
Flood Irrigation ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Irrigation Levels

Riparian ecology research in Arizona and California has documented the likelihood of a subsurface linkage between irrigation, especially flood-irrigation, and riparian function (Smith et al. 1989; Stromberg et al. 1996). Initial groundwater monitoring results from rural New Mexico indicate water tables rose 1 to 2m after the onset of field irrigation and subsurface flow paths towards the Rio Grande River developed soon after (Fernald et al. 2008). Results from a study of wetlands in southeastern Wyoming suggest that declining flood-irrigation levels would lead to a reduction in the total area of wetlands and related areas of wetland vegetation types in the Laramie Basin (Peck and Lovvorm 2001). Stringham et al. (1998) have reported further evidence for a linkage between irrigation and riparian function. These Oregon researchers noted lower water temperatures in stream reaches receiving subsurface return flows from irrigated hayfields than similar reaches flowing through non-irrigated lands. This information is timely because Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) managers have begun an evaluation of historic irrigation operations within the Park and are endeavoring to learn how cessation of flood irrigation will affect Park wetlands. The historically irrigated hayfields at the Elk Ranch provide an opportunity to address the Park Service's informational needs through identification of vegetation composition, soil physical characteristics and groundwater patterns associated with irrigated and naturally occurring wetlands. Successful description of patterns unique to natural wetlands will provide an avenue for predicting which Park wetlands would remain functional should irrigation efforts be brought to a close. Development of criteria for identifying naturally occurring wetlands could also serve as a basis for identifying areas for wetland mitigation and rehabilitation elsewhere in GTNP and the mountain valleys of the Northern Rocky Mountains.

scholarly journals The Main Drivers of Wetland Changes in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (14) ◽  
pp. 2619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyun Zhang ◽  
Quan Zhen ◽  
Min Cheng ◽  
Zhiyun Ouyang
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Wetland Loss ◽  
Wetland Type ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
National Priority ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Lakes And Reservoirs ◽  
Land Surfaces ◽  
Species Specific

Wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem in China, and wetland conservation is a national priority because of their importance for water security, flood mitigation, and biodiversity conservation. A goal has been established for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region (BTH) to recover 340 km2 of wetlands by 2020. To guide restoration and protection efforts, policymakers need information on the trends of wetland loss, conversion of wetlands, and their associated human drivers. The main drivers of changes in different wetland types in the BTH were identified and quantified from 2000 to 2015. In 2015, there was 6264.07 km2 less wetland area than in 2000, with the remaining wetlands primarily located in Hebei and Tianjin. Reservoirs/ponds were the most abundant wetland type, followed by herbaceous swamps, rivers, canals and channels, and then lakes as the least represented. There were continuous losses of wetlands from 2000 to 2015, with marked decreases for rivers (30.48%), channels/canals (23.30%), and herbaceous swamps (16.12%). However, there was an increase in the area of lakes and reservoirs/ponds, with increases of 54.96% and 3.47%, respectively. The largest changes in natural wetlands were due to agricultural production followed by artificialization and grassland expansion. The driving forces of the observed changes were specific to each local region. According to an aggregated boosted trees (ABT) analysis, gross farm production, total aquatic products, and irrigated area were the top three drivers of the decrease in natural wetlands, which agreed with the main patterns of change in the BTH. The purpose of this study was to provide guidance for policy makers working to meet the 2020 BTH wetland recovery target. Recommendations were provided at the provincial level, including water transfers across provincial boundaries, the control of agricultural expansion, exploration of species-specific irrigation deficits, a reduction in the artificialization of land surfaces, the development of a sustainable intensified aquaculture model, and the promotion of awareness of wetland importance among local people.

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