Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We identified a group of 75 vernal pools in suburban and rural environments in Strafford and Rockingham Counties, NH. These ponds were distributed among 8 clusters in variously fragmented environments, 2 clusters in a continuous, unfragmented landscape, and 6 isolated sites. In the first year of the project, we collected 1608 samples (n=987 spotted salamander embryos; n=621 wood frog embryos) from the clustered sites and 184 samples (n=112 salamanders, n=72 wood frogs) from the isolated sites for genetic analysis. Because we were able to collect many more samples than we originally proposed and were funded to analyze, in the second year, we focused our genetic analyses on a subset of these: 469 spotted salamanders and 348 wood frogs from 3 clustered and 4 isolated sites. A panel of 9 microsatellite loci were optimized for each species. In the third year of the project, an opportunity arose for expanding the scope of this research, by joining an interdisciplinary collaboration on ecosystem services in a fragmented landscape. To this end, we sampled additional sites that coincide with areas within the Lamprey and Oyster River watersheds targeted by our collaborators. An additional 14 ponds were sampled from two forested, unfragmented, clustered sites and 379 samples were collected. DNA was extracted from all of these samples for genetic analysis, bringing our totals for this project to 730 salamanders and 481 woodfrogs. The continuation of this effort is now being supported by additional AES funding of a multi-investigator award. One graduate student (Kaitlin Bonner, MS-degree in Zoology awarded August 2007) was partially supported on this project during the summer of 2007. Several undergraduates contributed to the sample collection and/or laboratory work on this project (Kerry Arsenault, Nursing 2007, Justine Demming, Animal Sciences 2009, Lindsey Schneiderman, Psychology/Biology 2009). PARTICIPANTS: Training in genetic techniques and analysis was provided to 1 graduate student, Kaitlin Bonner, and 3 undergraduates (Kerry Arsenault, Justine Demming, and Lindsey Schneiderman). Collaborators include, Kimberly Babbitt, amphibian ecologist, UNH, who was an active participant throughout the project. In the third year of the project, 4 additional interdisciplinary collaborators were added from UNH: Serita Frey, Bill McDowell, Russell Congalton and Mark Ducey. We have joined together for a study of the effects of fragmentation on ecosystem services. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project targets wildlife biologists, forestry managers and foresters who are interested in sustainable forestry practices. They will be reached through publications, outreach and extension. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We added a third category of sampling site, which we refer to as "isolated"; these ponds are in similar environments as our other study ponds, but rather than being surrounding by 10 or more nearby ponds, they have 3 or fewer ponds within 1000 m radius. Many of them lack roads. We added this objective of comparing "clustered" and "isolated" sites, because we think it addresses an important question pertaining to amphibian population persistence. Additionally, the scope of this project has been broadened, through a new interdisciplinary collaboration on ecosystem services and additional funding via a multi-investigator award. This facilitates the analysis of a much larger set of ponds and the potential to tie in the data on amphibian population connectivity with other aspects of the ecosystem that are being studied by collaborative participants. In so doing, we will address the bigger picture of the effects of forest fragmentation on ecosystem services.
Impacts
This research will enable us to evaluate the influence of fragmentation, and specifically, roads and suburban development, on amphibian population connectivity. The findings will be used by managers in evaluating plans for ecologically sustainable forestry practices.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities that contributed to the goals of the project during this progress period, included the following: the completion of sampling of 1608 amphibian embryos from 75 different ponds, and the genetic analysis at 9 microsatellite loci of 469 spotted salamanders and 238 wood frogs collected from 3 clustered and 4 isolated sites. Landscape genetic analysis of geographic population structure and factors that influence dispersal ability will follow. One graduate student (Kaitlin Bonner, MS-degree in Zoology awarded August 2007) was partially supported on this project during the summer of 2007. Several undergraduates contributed to the sample collection and/or laboratory work on this project (Kerry Arsenault, Nursing 2007, Justine Demming, Animal Sciences 2009, Linsdsey Schneiderman, Psychology/Biology 2009). As data collection and analysis is still underway, no additional outputs were generated during this period, but are anitcipated for the next progress period.
PARTICIPANTS: Kaitlin Bonner, graduate student: worked part-time on genotyping analysis in the summer of 2007. As she was a finishing masters student, this provided training for her in the field of genetic research.
TARGET AUDIENCES: This project targets wildlife biologists, forestry managers and foresters who are interested in sustainable forestry practices. They will be reached through publications, outreach and extension.
Impacts
Because data collection and analysis is underway for this project, no change of knowledge has yet occured. I anticipate this project will produce new knowledge about the dispersal abilities and influence of landscape features on realized amphibian movements. The results of this research will evaluate the effects of specific landscape features, such as roads and suburban development, on amphibian population connectivity, and thereby provide novel information on the influence of habitat fragmentation on amphibian dispersal. I anticipate that these findings will be used by managers in evaluating plans for ecologically sustainable forestry practices.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
In the first year of this project, we identified and collected samples from suitable wetlands in suburban and rural environments, in Strafford and Rockingham Counties, NH. We selected 10 focal ponds in 10 different locations. At each site, we identified all other ponds within 1000 m radius of the focal pond; we refer to the set of ponds at each site as a "cluster". Two of the ten pond clusters were found in a continuous, intact landscape. The remaining 8 clusters have various degrees of fragmentation, with 1 -3 roads present. We also selected 6 ponds that were in similar environments, but which only had 3 or fewer ponds within 1000 m radius; these sites we refer to as "isolated" sites. Five of the six isolated sites lack roads. We have added the objective of comparing "clustered" and "isolated" sites, because we think it addresses an important question pertaining to amphibian population persistence. We collected 1608 samples (n=987 spotted salamander embryos; n=621
wood frog embryos) from the clustered sites and 184 samples (n=112 salamanders, n=72 wood frogs) from the isolated sites for genetic analysis. This represents sampling of >75 individual ponds. To date, we have extracted DNA from 366 salamanders and 278 wood frogs from 3 clusters and 68 salamanders and 44 wood frogs from 1 isolated site. We are currently in the process of genotyping these samples. 300 salamanders have been genotyped at 6 loci to date. In the next year of the study, we will genotype the remaining samples, and extract DNA from additional individuals. Owing to our success in the field work in the first year of the project, and the large number of samples were able to obtain, we will not need to conduct additional field sampling in Year 2. Instead, our focus will be on continuation of genotyping, followed by genetic data analysis.
Impacts
Our research will provide novel information on the influence of habitat fragmentation on amphibian dispersal. Our results will evaluate the effects of specific landscape features, such as roads and suburban development, on amphibian population connectivity. We anticipate that our findings will be used by managers in evaluating plans for ecologically sustainable forestry practices.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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