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Temporary Ponds (temporary + pond)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Heliodiaptomus phuthaiorum n. sp., a New Freshwater Copepod (Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from Temporary Ponds in Northeast Thailand

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2004
La-orsri Sanoamuang
Abstract An illustrated description of a new species, Heliodiaptomus phuthaiorum n. sp., from nine of the 456 sampled localities in northeast Thailand, is presented. Morphologically, it is closely related to the Indian H. pulcher (Gurney, 1907). The new species is characterized in the male by the prominent, spinulose knob on the inner margin of the right basis; the finely serrated inner margin of the right second exopodite-segment; and the extraordinary large, tongue-like projection on proximal inner margin of the left basis. In the female, the genital somite is unusually long, much longer than the other two urosomites combined. This new species is rare and has been found only in temporary ponds in Nakhon Pranom and Nong Khai Provinces. It usually co-occurs with 1,5 other diaptomids; the most frequently co-occurring species are Neodiaptomus blachei (Brehm, 1951), N. yangtsekiangensisMashiko, 1951 and Eodiaptomus phuphanensisSanoamuang, 2001. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Foraging tactics in alternative heterochronic salamander morphs: trophic quality of ponds matters more than water permanency

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2007
MATHIEU DENOEL
Summary 1. In lentic freshwater habitats, the composition of animal assemblages shifts along a gradient from temporary to permanent basins. When habitats with different degrees of permanence are at the scale of the home range of species, they constitute alternatives in terms of energy acquisition through feeding. 2. In this context, previous studies showed an advantage of metamorphic over paedomorphic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) in temporary ponds which are only available to metamorphs. The aim of this study was to establish whether salamanders obtain similar benefits in ponds that do not differ in water permanence and whether salamanders shifted from detrimental to advantageous ponds. To this end, we determined the feeding habits, body condition and movement patterns of the two morphs in a complex of four permanent and four temporary ponds. 3. Consistent with previous studies, metamorphs consumed higher-quality diets than paedomorphs in term of energy intake. However, these differences occurred because metamorphs consumed fairy shrimp in a single temporary pond. Individual movement patterns confirmed that most of the metamorphs used different aquatic habitats both within and between years and that most of them moved from permanent ponds for breeding towards the most profitable temporary pond in terms of foraging. 4. These results indicate that habitat selection by salamanders is optimal in term of energy intake in metamorphs that use high quality ponds independently of hydroperiod. It seems that both spatial and temporal variation can influence the relative foraging success of each morph. [source]

Integrating species life-history traits and patterns of deforestation in amphibian conservation planning

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 1 2010
C. G. Becker
Abstract Aim, To identify priority areas for amphibian conservation in southeastern Brazil, by integrating species life-history traits and patterns of deforestation. Location, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods, We used the software Marxan to evaluate different scenarios of amphibian conservation planning. Our approach differs from previous methods by explicitly including two different landscape metrics; habitat split for species with aquatic larvae, and habitat loss for species with terrestrial development. We evaluated the effect of habitat requirements by classifying species breeding habitats in five categories (flowing water, still water permanent, still water temporary, bromeliad or bamboo, and terrestrial). We performed analyses using two scales, grid cells and watersheds and also considered nature preserves as protected areas. Results, We found contrasting patterns of deforestation between coastal and inland regions. Seventy-six grid cells and 14 watersheds are capable of representing each species at least once. When accounting for grid cells already protected in state and national parks and considering species habitat requirements we found 16 high-priority grid cells for species with one or two reproductive habitats, and only one cell representing species with four habitat requirements. Key areas for the conservation of species breeding in flowing and permanent still waters are concentrated in southern state, while those for amphibians breeding in temporary ponds are concentrated in central to eastern zones. Eastern highland zones are key areas for preserving species breeding terrestrially by direct or indirect development. Species breeding in bromeliads and bamboos are already well represented in protected areas. Main conclusions, Our results emphasize the need to integrate information on landscape configuration and species life-history traits to produce more ecologically relevant conservation strategies. [source]

Foraging tactics in alternative heterochronic salamander morphs: trophic quality of ponds matters more than water permanency

Heliodiaptomus phuthaiorum n. sp., a New Freshwater Copepod (Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from Temporary Ponds in Northeast Thailand

Evidence for individualistic species assembly creating convergent predator:prey ratios among pond invertebrate communities

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
Michael J. Jeffries
summary 1,Predator,:,prey ratios are cited as examples of a community level pattern, which suggests underlying assembly rules. Consistent ratios may result from either holistic community interactions or individualistic species assembly. This study tested for evidence of holistic or individualistic explanations for the predator : prey ratios among invertebrate communities of temporary ponds. 2,Macroinvertebrate species were recorded from 30 adjacent experimental ponds, in January and early summer over 4 years. After the first 2 years either additional predatory or prey taxa were added to treatment ponds to skew the natural predator : prey ratios. Species richness and ratios were monitored for the following 2 years comparing treatment ponds subject to augmented predator or prey richness against unmanipulated control ponds. 3,The majority of species added to treatments established in their respective ponds initially creating unusually high or low predator : prey ratios. In the 2 years following manipulation the ratios in treatment and control ponds converged. The convergence resulted from the spread of the additional species across all the ponds rather than acquisition or extinction of species within treatment ponds compensating for the skewed ratios. 4,Convergent predator : prey ratios resulted from the spread of the augmented local species pool across the site rather than holistic community level adjustment within separate ponds. The results support individualistic models of community assembly as the explanation for convergent predator : prey ratios in pond habitats. [source]

The external gills of anuran amphibians: Comparative morphology and ultrastructure

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 10 2008
M. Nokhbatolfoghahai
Abstract The external gills of anuran amphibians are transient structures, covered by the development of the operculum and regressing soon afterwards. Their functional role has been regarded as equivocal. However, detailed morphological analysis has been limited. Analysis of 21 species from six families using scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed diversity at the anatomical and cellular levels in extent and length of gill filaments, numbers of surface ciliated cells, width of water-blood barrier distance, and evidence of gill motility. The most highly developed external gills were found in species with delayed hatching, such as Phyllomedusa trinitatis, or in species in which hatchlings hang from the surface film of temporary ponds, such as Phrynohyas venulosa in which gills added 26,38% to body surface area. In one family, the bufonids, all four species examined had poorly developed gills, but in other families where we examined several species, the hylids and leptodactylids, there was considerable diversity of external gills, suggesting flexible adaptation to incubation and hatching environment. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and dispersal among spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) breeding populations

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
KELLY R. ZAMUDIO
Abstract We examined fine-scale genetic variation among breeding aggregations of the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) to quantify dispersal, interpopulation connectivity and population genetic structure. Spotted salamanders rely on temporary ponds or wetlands for aggregate breeding. Adequate breeding sites are relatively isolated from one another and field studies suggest considerable adult site fidelity; therefore, we expected to find population structure and differentiation at small spatial scales. We used microsatellites to estimate population structure and dispersal among 29 breeding aggregations in Tompkins County, New York, USA, an area encompassing 1272 km2. Bayesian and frequency-based analyses revealed fine-scale genetic structure with two genetically defined demes: the North deme included seven breeding ponds, and the South deme included 13 ponds. Nine ponds showed evidence of admixture between these two genetic pools. Bayesian assignment tests for detection of interpopulation dispersal indicate that immigration among ponds is common within demes, and that certain populations serve as sources of immigrants to neighbouring ponds. Likewise, spatial genetic correlation analyses showed that populations , 4.8 km distant from each other show significant genetic correlation that is not evident at higher scales. Within-population levels of relatedness are consistently larger than expected if mating were completely random across ponds, and in the case of a few ponds, within-population processes such as inbreeding or reproductive skew contribute significantly to differentiation from neighbouring ponds. Our data underscore the importance of these within-population processes as a source of genetic diversity across the landscape, despite considerable population connectivity. Our data further suggest that spotted salamander breeding groups behave as metapopulations, with population clusters as functional units, but sufficient migration among demes to allow for potential rescue and recolonization. Amphibian habitats are becoming increasingly fragmented and a clear understanding of dispersal and patterns of population connectivity for taxa with different ecologies and life histories is crucial for their conservation. [source]

Pond characteristics as determinants of species diversity and community composition in desert bats

ANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 5 2010
O. Razgour
Abstract Although water availability is known to affect landscape-scale patterns of wildlife diversity and distribution in arid environments, little is known about the microhabitat characteristics that shape the local-scale distribution of desert bats. We examined the relative importance of pond microhabitat characteristics for the conservation of bats, and hypothesized that in arid environments, patterns of bat diversity and community composition relate to the size of the pond and its hydroperiod (the number of months a pond holds water), a term we use to distinguish between permanent, semi-permanent and temporary ponds. We combined acoustic monitoring with video recording and an experimental approach to study bat activity over natural ponds in the Negev Desert, Israel. We found that both within and between ponds bat species richness and activity significantly increased with pond size. An experimental reduction of pond size led to a significant reduction in bat species richness and activity and affected the bat community composition. In contrast to pond size, pond hydroperiod did not affect bat diversity, as temporary ponds had equivalent levels of bat species richness and activity to permanent ponds. However, hydroperiod did couple with pond size to affect the bat community composition, whereby non-desert bat species that have a higher frequency of drinking were associated with larger and more permanent ponds. Our results highlight the importance of larger temporary ponds (ponds over 15 m in length and 0.5 m in depth) for the conservation of biodiversity in arid environments. [source]

Distinctiveness of macroinvertebrate communities in turloughs (temporary ponds) and their response to environmental variables

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 4 2009
Gwendolin Porst
Abstract 1.Turloughs are a prime example of a water body type that interfaces with both the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD), highlighting the need for an integrated strategy to protect and manage surface waters and groundwaters. To date, research on turloughs, including their invertebrate communities is limited. 2.Eight turloughs were sampled for their macroinvertebrate communities and water chemistry in April 2007. Faunal samples were collected by means of a simple box sampler. 3.Replicate samples within each turlough clustered together, indicating that a single sample can provide a meaningful description of the turlough invertebrate community. Variation of invertebrate communities within turloughs was nested among turloughs. 4.Hydroperiod influenced mean abundance and taxon richness of macroinvertebrates, but no correlation was found between nutrient status and either mean abundance or taxon richness. 5.Turloughs are priority habitats under the EC Habitats Directive, requiring maintenance of ,favourable conservation status', which needs to be assessed through monitoring, and effected through appropriate management plans. While the distinctiveness of macroinvertebrate communities across turloughs is conducive to simple and cost-effective monitoring, this also challenges the applicability of the concept of type-specific communities across these highly dynamic ecosystems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [source]

Ecology and conservation status of temporary and fluctuating ponds in two areas of southern England

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 2 2009
D.T. Bilton
Abstract 1.A high proportion of ponds are temporary in nature, although the biodiversity value of such sites is still poorly recognized. This work explores the plant and macroinvertebrate communities of 76 temporary and fluctuating water bodies in two regions of southern England (Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall and New Forest, Hampshire) that have retained high pond densities. The ecology and conservation status of sites is examined, and comparisons made with ponds elsewhere in England and Wales. 2.Lizard and New Forest ponds supported 119 plant and 165 macroinvertebrate species respectively. Patterns of community similarity for plants and macroinvertebrates were highly concordant, taxa being related in a similar manner to measured environmental variables including pond area, depth, pH and water chemistry. 3.Patterns of pond occupancy revealed that most species were locally rare, over half occurring in less than 10% of ponds, and less than 10% being recorded from more than 50% of sites. More than 50% of ponds supported at least one nationally rare plant and almost 75% at least one nationally rare macroinvertebrate. These taxa occupied a wide range of pond types in each region, and did not have predictably different ecologies from common species. 4.Comparisons with ponds elsewhere in England and Wales revealed that Lizard and New Forest communities are nationally distinct, being most similar to ponds in areas of low intensity agriculture elsewhere in western Britain. Individual ponds in both regions supported more nationally rare taxa, on average, than ponds sampled in the national survey. 5.Ponds in the two areas have high conservation value, both regionally and nationally, supporting almost 75% of the global species richness of temporary ponds sampled across England and Wales. Within each region, many taxa are found in relatively few sites, and effective conservation of pond biodiversity will require a regional management approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The relevance of preserving temporary ponds during drought: hydrological and vegetation changes over a 16-year period in the Doñana National Park (south-west Spain)

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 3 2008
Laura Serrano
Abstract 1.Although the Doñana National Park is given the highest degree of environmental protection in Spain, it is likely that groundwater discharge to several ponds within the Biological Reserve has been damaged by abstraction to a tourist resort located less than 1 km away. 2.Hydrological changes were monitored over 16 years (1 October 1989 to 30 September 2005) by recording the shallow water table of six temporary ponds at 1,8-week intervals, and the duration of pond wet phase (or hydroperiod) during each hydrological cycle. 3.The average rainfall for the study period was 563.2 mm, and included 6 wet, 5 moderate, and 5 dry years in a seemingly random sequence. The average rainy season extended from October until the end of March, while the dry season occupied the rest of the year. 4.The water table generally oscillated following this alternation of rainy and dry seasons, but this fluctuation was minimal during dry years, and even failed to occur at some ponds. 5.Since 1998/99, the average hydroperiod has shortened by 3 months at Charco del Toro pond, and by almost 2 months at Brezo pond, while the rest of the ponds exhibited a reduction of less than 1 month. 6.Vegetation changed in the ponds between May 1990 and 2005. Total plant cover increased (range of increase: 16,65%), and species richness decreased in all ponds (range of species loss: 4,18). 7.The reduction in the hydroperiod probably enhanced the growth of a few woody plants to the detriment of flooding-dependent species as the cover of Pinus pinea increased nearly fourfold at Brezo pond, while that of Scirpus lacustris was halved at Charco del Toro pond. 8.The pumping area for the nearby tourist resort should be relocated, and a specific management strategy should be developed in order to prevent further damage to the ponds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The effect of the sampling scale on zooplankton community assessment and its implications for the conservation of temporary ponds in south-west Spain

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 2 2007
Khalid Fahd
Abstract 1.The zooplankton (rotifer and microcrustacean) assemblages of temporary ponds in the Doñana National Park (south-west Spain) have been compared in two surveys of contrasting scales that resulted in the same number of samples: an extensive survey of 36 ponds sampled in May 1998 (or widespread survey) and a survey of nine ponds sampled four times over 2 years (or cumulative survey). 2.The total number of microcrustacean and rotifer taxa was larger in the cumulative survey (43 and 41 taxa, respectively) than in the widespread survey (39 and 34, respectively). Crustacean assemblages became less alike throughout the cumulative survey. 3.The presence of invertebrates (Coleoptera, Odonata, Heteroptera and crayfish) and aquatic vertebrates (fish and salamanders) was recorded as an estimate of potential predator impact on zooplankton. Several pond features (water depth, conductivity, pH, chlorophyll a concentration, distance to the nearest permanent pond and to the marsh) were also measured in both surveys. 4.A combination of these environmental factors was more strongly related to the similarity matrices derived from the zooplankton assemblages of the cumulative survey (Rho=0.7) than to those of the widespread survey (Rho<0.4). The distance of ponds to the marsh was an important factor in explaining this correlation as well as the strongest factor in the ordination of crustacean assemblages following a CCA. 5.Predation by exotic fish in long-hydroperiod ponds where overflow drains to the nearby marsh (fish source) is the mechanism likely to explain the changes in crustacean composition recorded in the cumulative survey. 6.The cumulative survey was more suitable for the study of zooplankton diversity as it rendered a higher number of taxa and gave more insight into the mechanisms that explain taxon richness. Thus, conservation strategies in temporary habitats require a scale of observation that includes long temporal changes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]