Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: The role of ecosystem processes in restoring local and regional species diversity in Coastal Plain wetlands
EPA Grant Number: R825795Title: The role of ecosystem processes in restoring local and regional species diversity in Coastal Plain wetlands
Investigators: Resetarits Jr., William J.
Current Investigators: Resetarits Jr., William J. , Fauth, John E.
Institution: Old Dominion University
Current Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , College of Charleston
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 1997 through August 31, 2000
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2000
Project Amount: $527,032
RFA: Ecosystem Restoration (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
The purpose of this project is to determine the impact of variation in hydroperiod on the success of wetlands restoration efforts. Pond drying is a form of disturbance that at intermediate levels should increase species diversity by preventing elimination of species through competition and by preventing colonization of wetlands by predatory fishes. It also prevents the accumulation of other predators such as larval insects with long larval stages. Thus, maintaining a mosaic of pond hydroperiods may be critical to maintaining regional (watershed level) species diversity. The long-term goal of this project is to identify and test hydroperiod manipulations that bring the amphibian faunas of artificially created wetland ponds closer to those of their natural counterparts. Amphibians are sentinel species that are good indicators of ecosystem health; thus, successful mitigation for frogs and salamanders should indicate restoration of ecosystem function affecting a broad range of organisms. In order to rigorously address the role of hydroperiod variation and its attendant ecological changes in the maintenance of species diversity, this project utilizes both comparative and experimental approaches. Experiments are being conducted at both the whole pond and mesocosm level. The success of our proposed restoration strategies will be rigorously evaluated with a large-scale experimental test in man-made ponds.Progress Summary:
Our major accomplishment this year was initiating the experimental manipulation of pond hydroperiod in manufactured wetlands, and completion of the first round of post-manipulation diversity assays. The experiment has a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design, where treatments are pond type (wildlife pond or borrow pit), crossed with all possible combinations of summer or winter draining. Thus, we created four drying regimes (summer only, winter only, summer and winter, or never dry). Each treatment was replicated 3 times, for a total of 24 ponds. Twelve natural, temporary ponds also are being monitored, to assess the success of our manipulations. Preliminary results indicate that summer drying significantly increases amphibian species richness and abundance, but that winter drying (which was done in January 2001) has no detectable effect. We are continuing to monitor amphibian, reptile, odonate, and macroinvertebrate responses in this experimental system. Though it is too early for publications arising from the primary work on this project, complementary research is already proving very fruitful, with numerous manuscripts published or in review, with others (not listed) in preparation. Project personnel have presented several papers at regional and national meetings and are planning several presentations at national/international meetings in this coming year (2001). One thesis project has been completed and numerous others are fully underway.Future Activities:
As indicated in our original proposal, the remainder of the project involves maintaining the manipulation schedule for hydroperiod in the study ponds, and monitoring the response to those manipulations with seasonal sampling of all the man-made and natural reference ponds. In order to ascertain how hydroperiod combines with species interactions to determine diversity and richness in wetland habitats, we will continue to do parallel observations and experiments both in natural and model systems, both in South Carolina and Virginia, in order to further our understanding of the processes affecting communities in seasonal wetland habitats. We are preparing the results of several of these experiments for publication and they are the subject of at least five presentations at the 2001 Ecological Society of America (ESA) meetings in Madison.Journal Articles on this Report : 4 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 44 publications | 19 publications in selected types | All 17 journal articles |
|---|
| Type | Citation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Binckley CA, Resetarits Jr. WJ. Reproductive decisions under threat of predation: squirrel treefrog (Hyla squirella) responses to banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus). Oecologia 2002;130(1):157-161. |
R825795 (2000) R825795 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
|
|
Diana SG, Resetarits Jr. WJ, Schaeffer DJ, Beckmen KB, Beasley VR. Effects of atrazine on amphibian growth and survival in artificial aquatic communities. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2000;19(12):2961-2967. |
R825795 (2000) R825795 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
|
|
Eason GW, Fauth JE. Ecological correlates of anuran species richness in temporary pools: a field study in South Carolina, USA. Israel Journal of Zoology 2001;47(4):346-365. |
R825795 (2000) R825795 (Final) |
Exit |
|
|
Resetarits WJ. Colonization under threat of predation:avoidance of fish by an aquatic beetle, Tropisternus lateralis (Coleoptera:Hydrophilidae). Oecologia 2001;129(1):155-160. |
R825795 (2000) R825795 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
watersheds, ecological effects , ecosystem, indicators, restoration, aquatic, habitat, conservation, ecology, zoology, surveys, experiments, Southeast, South Carolina, SC, Virginia, VA., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water & Watershed, Midwest, Restoration, State, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Biology, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Watersheds, wetlands, Iowa, diversity, wildlife, regional species diversity, frogs, biodiversity, environmental assets, amphibians, coastal environments, salamanders, species interactions, ecological recovery, aquatic ecosystems, IAProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.