Improvement of breeding success of the moor frog ( Rana arvalis) by liming of acid moorland pools and the consequences of liming for water chemistry and diatoms

Abstract

Liming experiments with powdered limestone (grain size < 3 mm) were conducted in eight acid shallow moorland pools in the Tongerense Heide heathland area from February 1988 until November 1989. The effects on water chemistry, diatoms and fungal infection of the eggs of the moor frog were studied. After an initial treatment in March 1988, the pH increased from c. 4·0 to c. 5·0 in those pools which dried out in summer and to c. 6·0 in the permanent pools. Alkalinity increased from 0 to 20–200 μeq litre −1 in temporary pools and from 0 to 300–500 μeq litre −1 in permanent pools. As drying out of the pools caused reacidification, after refilling the temporary pools were relimed in March 1989. No significant changes were found in concentrations of phosphate and nitrogen compounds. Eunotia paludosa, which is characteristic for ologotrophic, very acid pools and bogs with a fluctuating water table, was the dominant diatom in the untreated pools. It was replaced by eutraphentic and saprophilous taxa, particularly in the permanent pools. Species from extremely soft waters, which are very sensitive to acidification, were found only occassionally in some samples from the treated permanent pools. After liming the proportion of infected moor frog eggs decreased from c. 95% in the untreated to c. 5% in the treated pools.