Upland Ponds Research Articles

PENGARUH KETINGGIAN PERMUKAAN LAUT (DPL) TERHADAP KESTABILAN SUHU DAN KELEMBAPAN KOLAM IKAN AIR TAWAR SEBAGAI SUMBER BELAJAR

Abstract: This research is aimed to determine the stability of temperature and humidity between fish ponds in the lowlands and highlands. This study aims to investigate (1) the effect of sea level in a specific area towards the stability of temperature and humidity of freshwater fish ponds. (2) the relationship between sea level and temperature as well as humidity of fish ponds. The research results from the effect of sea level (asl) on the stability of temperature and humidity of freshwater fish ponds is composed in the form of book for learning resources. This type of research as experimental research and this study used two ponds for data collection, namely ponds in the lowlands and highlands. The tools used in this research were thermometer, hygrometer and altimeter. Research in the lowlands in the village of Pekalongan, Pekalongan Regency is 50 meters above sea level and the highlands in the village of Alert, Sekincau Regency is 1,142 meters above sea level. The result of the stability of the lowland fish pond temperature was between 27.1–33.0ºC, the highland fish pond temperature was between 21.6–25.9ºC. The stability of the lowlands fish pond humidity was between 38–87%, the highland fish pond humidity is 21-84%. The Differences in temperature and humidity stability occur in fish ponds in the lowlands and fish ponds in the highlands, therefore the temperature and humidity of lowland fish ponds are more ideal than highland fish ponds. The movement of fish in lowland ponds is quite fast and often moves. The movement of fish in upland ponds is slow and fish often rise to the surface of the water in search of oxygen.Keywords : Lowlands Fishpond, Highland Fishpond, Temperature, Humidity

Whooping and sandhill cranes visit upland ponds proportional to migration phenology on the Texas coast

AbstractTwo crane species, whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis), overwinter along the Texas Gulf Coast. Periodic, extreme drought conditions have prompted concerns that potential freshwater limitations could hinder conservation of cranes, especially endangered whooping cranes. In response, land managers constructed and maintained freshwater ponds in upland areas near saltmarshes on the wintering grounds. We monitored 30 of those constructed ponds using camera traps (1 Oct 2013–31 May 2014) to quantify crane visits. For each species, we modeled pond visits as a function of migration phenology and environmental variables at 2 scales. Pond‐scale variables included distance to saltmarsh and monthly salinity, and broad‐scale variables included bay salinity, drought index, and tide level. We found pond visits by both crane species followed migration phenology with the greatest pond use in January–February. Both crane species visited ponds more on the mainland than on Matagorda Island. Sandhill crane visits were fewer at ponds with higher salinities and those filled by well water. Cranes visited ponds during the diurnal period and tended to avoid visiting ponds during the first 10% of the day. Pond visits by whooping cranes were ≤0.15 times/pond/day and by sandhill cranes were ≤0.28 times/pond/day. Our results suggested crane visits to constructed ponds may not be as frequent as once assumed nor driven by tidal and salinity conditions in the bay. The greater number of crane visits to constructed ponds on the mainland compared to Matagorda Island may be related to shrub encroachment around natural freshwater swale wetlands on the mainland, which is not as prevalent of a problem on the island. With proper management, swales on the mainland may provide alternatives to constructed ponds for cranes to obtain freshwater and forage.

Overwinter survival, age, and growth of juvenile tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in a shallow, tidally-restricted habitat in South Carolina

Early life stage tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) have been collected in the western Atlantic Ocean north of Florida where it has been assumed that individuals migrate from estuarine areas at the onset of winter because water temperature during winter is too low for survival. However, there is anecdotal evidence of juvenile tarpon present during winter in this region. We conducted a tag-recapture study to examine potential overwinter survival in a tidally-restricted, upland pond in coastal South Carolina where tarpon have been observed during winter months. We also estimated the age structure of tarpon in this location to determine if age-0 fish were temporarily using this pond or if there were older individuals present, indicating the pond may be occupied for extended periods of time. We recaptured 29 of the 95 individuals tagged and released during January 2016 through October 2018. Of those 29 recaptured individuals, 13 survived one winter and two survived over two winters. Water temperature during winter in a nearby tidal creek was lower than in the pond, which appeared to provide a thermal refuge for tarpon. Estimated ages for 36 individuals ranged from 0 to 3 years (n = 10, 20, 5, 1, respectively). To our knowledge this is the northernmost documented overwintering of juvenile tarpon. Determining the extent of this type of habitat in the region and examining the population dynamics of tarpon in these locations could ultimately help determine how this region contributes to the productivity of adult tarpon populations.

Under‐Ice Population Density Estimation of Alaska Blackfish

AbstractThe Alaska Blackfish Dallia pectoralis is an understudied but ecologically important mudminnow occurring in lentic ecosystems of subarctic and Arctic Alaska. We sampled a population of Alaska Blackfish during the winter months in an upland pond near Fairbanks, Alaska, and we used a simple mark–recapture estimator to provide the first population estimate for this species. We found that Alaska Blackfish density in the pond was approximately 0.27 individuals/m2, equating to an estimated biomass of 15 g/m2 of pond surface area, which is similar to density estimates reported for other mudminnow species. We tested capture methods and found that under‐ice minnow trapping was a poor method during early winter (September–December) but was highly effective near methane sumps and areas of high muskrat Ondatra zibethicus activity in late winter (March–April). Qualitatively, nearshore minnow trapping, seining, and kicknetting during the ice‐free season were less effective than under‐ice trapping. Cursorily, pelvic fin clips were more effective for batch marking of Alaska Blackfish than two types of subcutaneous tags, given the high numbers of individuals we captured and the species’ relatively small body size and dark skin, which hindered tag visualization. We demonstrated that Alaska Blackfish can occur at high densities in their typical habitat, underscoring their importance as forage fish in Alaskan freshwater ecosystems that support subsistence and sport fisheries for piscivorous fishes. Extending this approach across the geographic range of Alaska Blackfish will improve understanding of the ecological role of this species in the varying aquatic ecosystems where it occurs.

Prehistoric Upland Farming, Fuelwood, and Forest Composition on the Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, USA

Abstract Domesticated seed crops first appear in the archaeological record of the Cumberland Plateau region of eastern Kentucky (USA) at 3500 BP. Both the archaeobotanical and paleoecological records indicate a substantial increase in forest opening, seed storage, residential stability, and use of food production technology after 3000 BP. The Holocene pollen and microcharcoal record obtained from one upland pond additionally shows a concomitant increase in frequency of local fires and the abundance of fire-tolerant tree taxa, including oaks, chestnut, and pines. In this location, the establishment of an anthropogenic fire regime for agricultural clearing also transformed forests to include larger numbers of economically important nut-producing trees. However, an archaeological wood assemblage from the Mounded Talus shelter shows that human foragers in the region had access to these mixed oak forests and their products as early as 8000 BP. Comparison of multiple wood charcoal data sets shows considerable c...

The geochemistry of upland ponds, Taylor Valley, Antarctica

AbstractThe McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are the largest ice-free region on the continent. These valleys contain numerous water bodies that receive seasonal melt from glaciers. For forty years, research emphasis has been placed on the larger water bodies, the permanent ice-covered lakes. We present results from the first study describing the geochemistry of ponds in the higher elevations of Taylor Valley. Unlike the lakes at lower elevations, the landscape on which these ponds lie is among the oldest in Taylor Valley. These upland ponds wax and wane in size depending on the local climatic conditions, and their ionic concentrations and isotopic composition vary annually depending on the amount of meltwater generated and their hydrologic connectivity. This study evaluates the impact of changes in summer climate on the chemistry of these ponds. Although pond chemistry reflects the initial meltwater chemistry, dissolution and chemical weathering within the stream channels, and possibly permafrost fluid input, the primary control is the dilution effect of glacier melt during warmer summers. These processes lead to differences in solute concentrations and ionic ratios between ponds, despite their nearby proximity. The change in size of these ponds over time has important consequences on their geochemical behaviour and potential to provide water and solutes to the subsurface.

Effects of Shrimp Aquaculture on the Quality of Upland Pond Soil Indicating by Microbial FAME and Enzyme Activity*

Effects of Shrimp Aquaculture on the Quality of Upland Pond Soil Indicating by Microbial FAME and Enzyme Activity*

CAROLINA BAYS: TIME CAPSULES OF CULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

We synthesize results of extensive archaeological surveys and geoarchaeological investigations of Carolina bays and other depressional wetlands on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS). The SRS is located along the Savannah River in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. These data are augmented with data from Carolina bays elsewhere within their middle to south Atlantic Coastal Plain range. Carolina bays are shallow, oriented upland ponds that formed during the late Pleistocene under climatic conditions very different from present. Their use by prehistoric populations was most intensive during the Paleoindian and Archaic periods. Subsequent use by Woodland and Mississippian populations tended to be ephemeral. Change through time in the prehistoric use of Carolina bays and other depressional wetlands is linked to regional-scale changes in climate, particularly to the hydrologic regime.

Peatlands and green frogs: A relationship regulated by acidity?

:The effects of site acidification on amphibian populations have been thoroughly addressed in the last decades. However, amphibians in naturally acidic environments, such as peatlands facing pressure from the peat mining industry, have received little attention. Through two field studies and an experiment, I assessed the use of bog habitats by the green frog (Rana clamitans melanota), a species sensitive to various forestry and peat mining disturbances. First, I compared the occurrence and breeding patterns of frogs in bog and upland ponds. I then evaluated frog movements between forest and bog habitats to determine whether they corresponded to breeding or postbreeding movements. Finally, I investigated, through a field experiment, the value of bogs as rehydrating areas for amphibians by offering living Sphagnum moss and two media associated with uplands (i.e., water with pH ca 6.5 and water-saturated soil) to acutely dehydrated frogs. Green frog reproduction at bog ponds was a rare event, and no net movements occurred between forest and bog habitats. However, acutely dehydrated frogs did not avoid Sphagnum. Results show that although green frogs rarely breed in bogs and do not move en masse between forest and bog habitats, they do not avoid bog substrates for rehydrating, despite their acidity. Thus, bogs offer viable summering habitat to amphibians, which highlights the value of these threatened environments in terrestrial amphibian ecology.

SPATIAL VARIATION IN FISH ASSEMBLAGES ACROSS A BEAVER-INFLUENCED SUCCESSIONAL LANDSCAPE

Beavers are increasingly viewed as ecological engineers, having broad effects on physical, chemical, and biological attributes of north-temperate landscapes. We examine the influence of both local successional processes associated with beaver activity and regional geomorphic boundaries on spatial variation in fish assemblages along the Kabetogama Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, USA. Fish abun- dance and species richness exhibited considerable variation among drainages along the peninsula. Geological barriers to fish dispersal at outlets of some drainages has reduced fish abundance and species richness. Fish abundance and species richness also varied within drainages among local environments associated with beaver pond succession. Fish abun- dance was higher in upland ponds than in lowland ponds, collapsed ponds, or streams, whereas species richness was highest in collapsed ponds and streams. Cluster analyses based on fish abundance at sites classified according to successional environment indicated that four species (northern redbelly dace, Phoxinus eos; brook stickleback, Culaea incon- stans; finescale dace, P. neogaeus; and fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas), were pre- dominant in all successional environments. Several less abundant species were added in collapsed ponds and streams, with smaller size classes of large lake species (e.g., black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus; smallmouth bass, Micropertus dolomieui; yellow perch, Perca flavescens; and burbot, Lota lota) being a component of these less abundant species. The addition of smaller size classes of large lake species indicates that dispersal of early life-history stages from Kabetogama Lake played a role in determining the species richness and composition of less abundant species in successional environments on the peninsula. Furthermore, collapsed-pond and stream environments closer to Kabetogama Lake had higher species richness than similar successional sites located farther from the lake. Cluster analyses based on fish abundance at sites classified according to drainage indicated that species composition among drainages was influenced both by the presence or absence of geological barriers to fish dispersal and the nonrandom distribution of collapsed ponds and streams. Based on these results, we present a hierarchical conceptual model suggesting how geomorphic boundaries and beaver pond succession interact to influence fish assemblage attributes. The presence of a productive and diverse fish assemblage in headwater streams of north-temperate areas requires the entire spatial and temporal mosaic of successional habitats associated with beaver activity, including those due to the creation and abandonment of beaver ponds. The ultimate impact of the local successional mosaic on fishes, however, will be strongly influenced by the regional geomorphic context in which the mosaic occurs.

Niche Relationships of Clonal and Sexual Fish in a Heterogeneous Landscape

We examined spatial, physiological, and morphological niche relationships in a Phoxinus eos–neogaeus gynogenetic complex of cyprinid fish in five drainages influenced by beaver (Castor canadensis) activity along the 294-km2 Kabetogama Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park of northern Minnesota. Assessment of clonal variation using “in gel” DNA fingerprinting of gynogens from three drainages indicated that all drainages contained only a single clone. When environments associated with beaver pond succession were pooled across drainages, P. eos was more abundant in active beaver ponds, while gynogens were at higher frequencies in collapsed pond and stream environments. Gynogen frequency for different successional environments classified according to drainage indicated strong variation among drainages, especially in pond environments, but a consistent pattern of increased gynogen frequency in collapsed ponds or streams. Intensive sampling within one drainage across successional beaver pond sites, physical habitats, and gradients of oxygen concentration indicated that P. eos, P. neogaeus, and gynogens were all most abundant in the highly oxygenated littoral environment of an upland pond. P. eos abundance and its relative frequency in the gynogenetic complex decreased, while gynogen frequency increased, in a poorly oxygenated collapsed beaver pond and beaver meadow. Fish transplant experiments revealed that gynogens survived longer and had greater physiological tolerance to oxygen stress than sexual progenitors, especially P. eos. Principal component analysis of 11 growth-related morphometric characteristics revealed morphological intermediacy of the hybrid gynogens between the sexual progenitors, with factors related to trophic morphology, especially mouth width and mouth length, segregating the different forms. A comparison of morphological relationships in a beaver pond with a gynogen frequency of 25–35% to those of a pond with a gynogen frequency of only 6–7% suggested that there was a release in the trophic morphology of P. eos in response to reduced gynogen abundance. The temporal and spatial unpredictability of environmental conditions in the north temperate landscape inhabited by these fish has apparently resulted in selection for a physiologically flexible, “general purpose” clonal genotype, which occupies a broad ecological niche and may make establishment of additional clones in the same ecosystem difficult.

Carolina Bay geoarchaeology and Holocene landscape evolution on the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina

Surface water on the mainly dry, upland interfluves of the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina occurs currently as a sporadic distribution of shallow ponds held within Carolina bays and other small, isolated basins. At seven bays on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site on the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina, we investigated Holocene changes in bay morphology, ecology, and prehistoric human activity. At Flamingo Bay, we employed archaeological survey and testing, shovel and auger testing, sediment analysis, and ground-penetrating radar to document stratigraphy and chronology of the sand rim on the eastern side of the bay. Artifact assemblage indicate changes in intensity of human use of the bay. Radiocarbon dates from a sediment core establish time scales for depositional processes at the center of the basin. Ground-penetrating radar data from the other bays indicate that the stratigraphy of all seven bays is broadly similar. We conclude that: (1) Significant modification of the bays, including rim development and basin infilling, occurred during the Holocene; (2) ponds on the early Holocene landscape were larger and more permanent than at present; (3) early Holocene climate, as indicated by both depositional processes and human activity, was not characterized by prolonged periods of extremely dry conditions; and (4) fluvial-centric models of terminal Pleistocene—early Holocene human adaptations require revision to include intensive use of isolated upland ponds. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Extreme clonal uniformity of Phoxinus eos/neogaeus gynogens (pisces: Cyprinidae) among variable habitats in northern Minnesota beaver ponds.

Genetic surveys of parthenogenetic vertebrate populations have demonstrated a common pattern of relatively high degrees of clonal variation and the coexistence of numerous clones. In striking contrast, the Phoxinus eos/Phoxinus neogaeus/hybrid gynogen complex of cyprinid fishes exhibits no clonal variation within a northern Minnesota drainage characterized by successional beaver ponds. Gynogens were sampled from three habitats in each of four different pond types in a single drainage in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. The abundance of gynogens relative to sexual dace varied with pond type, being least common in deep upland ponds and most common in shallow, collapsed, lowland ponds (13.4% and 48.6%, respectively). Simple-sequence multilocus DNA fingerprinting of 464 individual gynogens detected one, and only one, clone. DNA fingerprints, generated sequentially by using three oligonucleotide probes, (CAC)5, (GACA)4, and the Jeffreys' 33.15 probe, all revealed the same unprecedented lack of variation. The extreme lack of clonal diversity in these gynogens across a range of habitat types does not fit the general pattern of high clonal diversity found within populations of other vertebrate parthenogens.

Acid deposition from the Russian Kola Peninsula: Are sensitive fish populations in north-eastern Finnish Lapland affected?

Sulphur emissions from Russian Kola Peninsula smelters are known to cause surface water acidification in the border areas between Norway and Russia. The sulphur deposition is also high in the eastern part of Finnish Lapland. In 1990, a monitoring programme was started to survey the effects of acid deposition on sensitive fish populations in north-eastern Finnish Lapland. Altogether 103 sites in three areas were electrofished and autumn water samples were taken. Besides the brown trout (Salmo trutta), special attention was paid to the occurrence of minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) since it is a common species in small waters and is highly sensitive to acidification. During the first three years of monitoring no signs of acidification were recorded. The alkalinity values of brooks generally exceeded 0.1 mmol/1. Brown trout, minnow and burbot (Lota lota) were caught frequently in the study sites. Later the study was focused on the uninhabited Vatsari area which is receiving the highest sulphur deposition in Finnish Lapland. The alkalinity values of the sampled brooks were in most cases below 0.05 mmol/1, indicating a decreased buffer capacity. However, the electrofishing of the brooks showed no acid-induced damage. The lowest alkalinity values were detected from a group of small upland ponds. In four such ponds the alkalinity was zero or negative. No minnows were caught from these four ponds apart from one, where the minnows were exceptionally large. The results show that the waters near the eastern border of northern Finnish Lapland are threatened by acidification. No damage to fish populations subject to fishing was observed. The absence of minnows in some small waters is possibly the first sign of acid-induced fish population damage.

The effects of acid water and aluminium on the embryonic development of the common frog, Rana temporaria

A decline in recent decades in the status of Rana temporaria in the British Isles has been attributed to a number of factors, mostly relating to increased urbanization. Acidification has recently been suggested as a factor which could affect R. temporaria populations in certain areas.The effects of acid water and aluminium on the embryonic development of R. temporaria were investigated using eggs obtained by artificial fertilization from frogs caught in two widely separated areas; an upland area (acidic ponds) and a lowland area (circumneutral ponds). The eggs were kept in artificial soft water at either pH 4.5 or pH 6.0 and with aluminium concentrations covering the range measured in water from the acidic ponds.The survival of embryos to normal free‐swimming larvae was not affected by water pH in the absence of aluminium. Increasing aluminium concentrations reduced the survival of lowland embryos in circumneutral water, but upland embryos were unaffected. However, in acidic water the survival of embryos from both areas decreased with increasing aluminium concentrations. Embryos which did not survive either died early in development, or developed gross abnormalities, or were constricted in the perivitelline membrane and failed to hatch. The body length of surviving larvae was decreased by both increasing aluminium concentrations and low pH, probably owing to a reduction in growth rate rather than development rate. The body length of larvae from upland ponds was decreased less than that of lowland larvae in acidic water, suggesting a greater acid tolerance in embryos from acidic ponds.Reduced embryo survival, sublethal effects, such as reductions in embryonic growth rate, and indirect ecological effects may affect recruitment to the adult population in acid ponds. It is not possible to predict from the present data what effects these results of acidification may have on regional population because the acid tolerance of embryos varies widely within regions.

Microhabitat selection and feeding relations of smooth and warty newts, Triturus vulgaris and T. cristatus, at an upland pond in mid‐Wales

The utilization of microhabitat and food resources by Triturus vulgaris and T. cristatus was studied in an upland pond in mid‐Wales. From April to June T. vulgaris was more evenly distributed across the pond than T. cristatus, which showed a preference for the middle of the pond and the bottom of the water column. From July to September however, when most T. vulgaris had left the pond, T cristatus was evenly distributed within the water column and a much higher proportion was captured around the shorelines. Both species appear to be generalist predators with diets limited by prey size. Zooplankton were the most important prey for T. vulgaris, while leeches formed the bulk of the diet of T. cristatus. However, T. cristatus did not select larger‐sized zooplankton than T. vulgaris. Large body size therefore enables T. cristatus to consume a wider range of prey sizes than T. vulgaris. Microhabitat niche overlap was greater than feeding niche overlap between the species.

The reproductive biology of Common frog (Rana temporaria) populations from different altitudes in northern England

The study investigated the ecophysiological differences between populations of the Common frog(Rana temporaria L.) from different altitudes in northern England. Frog embryos in upland northern ponds experience very low temperatures during the period of embryonic development. These embryos were found to have a lower lethal limit for 50% normal development of2–8 °C, compared with3–8 °C for lowland embryos. These values are below most of the lower limiting temperature estimates previously obtained for R. temporaria. Embryos from upland ponds developed faster at low temperatures than embryos from lowland ponds. This may be an adaptation to the shorter growing season and lower temperatures at higher altitudes. Upland female frogs were found to be shorter and produced fewer eggs than lowland females. The differences found between lowland and upland frogs are discussed in terms of their potential adaptive significance.

Home Range and Movements of the Wood Frog in a Northern Bog

Wood frogs were marked by toe clipping and were recaptured in a northern Minnesota peat bog for three summers. The study area, dominated by tamaracks and calla lilies in the northern half and by spruces and alders in the southern half, measured 120 yards on each side and was divided into 100 equal quadrats. A total of 1,377 individuals was handled; many were recaptured one or more times, 2,101 captures being made altogether. Frogs captured once were transients; they were on the area but not reflushed, or they died. Most recaptured individuals appeared to remain in restricted areas, distances between successive capture sites averaging 12.3 yards with a median of 7.7 yards for adults. Long distances were few and probably represented nomadic individuals. Distances between the first and second capture sites did not differ significantly from first to third distances, nor from first to fourth distances. However, distance between capture sites was significantly correlated with time elapsed, this owing to a few far—ranging individuals. For frogs at least one year old, movement in the calla lilly—tamarack cover did not differ significantly from that in the alder—spruce zone; males did not differ significantly from females in movement; and 28 to 42 mm (body length) frogs did not differ significantly from 43 to 55 mm frogs. The mean home range size was 77.2 yards2, but it was highly variable. Young, recently metamorphosed frogs invaded the study area from upland ponds in July and August. A few showed long distances between capture sites but most appeared to settle down soon after arrival distance between captures was not correlated with time elapsed. Several frogs were recaptured the year following marking, many near the original capture site. These showed significantly greater movement than those captured in one summer only, but 50% showed overwinter distances of only 15 yards or less, and 78% showed 32 yards or less. These either remained in the area to hibernate or returned after migrating to a hibernation site off the area; probably many left the area to breed and then returned. The results are discussed in the light of earlier studies in relation to home range size, general summer movement, overwinter movement, and the effects of humidity on movement.

Longevity of Some Botrychium Species

In the fall of 1941 we moved forty miles northwest of Chicago to an area of wooded ravines situated on the Valparaiso Moraine in Lake County, Illinois. The dissected rolling topography presents varied habitatsfrom calcareous lakes situated in the depressions between the hills to natural upland ponds, from neutral to calcareous rich woodland valleys and ravine slopes to upland acid oak-hickory knolls and ridges. 108

The Fauna of an Upland Pond and its Inflowing Stream at Ystumtuen, North Cardiganshire, Wales

The Fauna of an Upland Pond and its Inflowing Stream at Ystumtuen, North Cardiganshire, Wales