Biological Connectivity of Seasonally Ponded Wetlands across Spatial and Temporal Scales

Smith, Lora L.; Subalusky, Amanda L.; Atkinson, Carla L.; Earl, Julia E.; Mushet, David; Scott, David E.; Lance, Stacey L.; Johnson, Steve A.

doi:10.1111/1752-1688.12682

Cited by 37 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 182 publications

(211 reference statements)

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“…In contrast, in wetlandscapes with more permeable soils, sustained groundwater connectivity can lead to regulation and dampening of surficial aquifer and baseflow dynamics (McLaughlin et al, ). Although surface connectivity in depressional wetlands is typically limited in duration and frequency (Tiner, ), temporary connections produce ecologically important pulses of water flow, material transport, and transient aquatic corridors (Ameli & Creed, ; Senar et al, ; Smith et al, ). Indeed, temporal inequality of watershed exports strongly suggests periodic but important “hot moments” of surface water and solute transport (Jawitz & Mitchell, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetland Connectivity Thresholds and Flow Dynamics From Stage Measurements

McLaughlin

Diamond

Quintero

et al. 2019

Water Resources Research

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Depressional wetlands are dominant features in many low‐gradient landscapes, where they provide water storage and exchange. Typical basin morphology enables water storage during drier periods, when surface flow paths are disconnected and exchange is limited to slower groundwater flow paths. Under wetter conditions, wetland stage can exceed surface connection thresholds, activating surface flow paths to downstream waters. Empirical methods are needed to quantify these dynamics and thus to assess their role in landscape hydrology and associated functions. We developed a new water budget‐based approach to enumerate connectivity thresholds and flows from stage measurements. We propose that this approach, termed Connectivity and Flow from Stage (CFS), has broad applicability across wetlandscapes. We applied the CFS method in the Big Cypress National Preserve, where we hypothesized that surface connectivity episodes control water and solute flux, with consequences for exported carbonate weathering products and thus for karst landform evolution. Across five study wetlands, this analysis detected surface connectivity thresholds and assessed temporal flow dynamics. Imputed connectivity thresholds were clear from stage‐dependent net flow dynamics and aligned well with LiDAR‐derived thresholds. Water export occurred overwhelmingly when stage exceeded these thresholds, indicating that water and solute export from these wetlands is dominated by periods of enhanced landscape connectivity. Notably, the presented CFS method can quantify wetland connectivity thresholds from stage data, even without supporting geomorphic information. This approach is useful for understanding hydrologic controls on biogeomorphic evolution in this particular karst landscape, and more broadly for inferring wetland connectivity patterns and magnitudes in other wetlandscape settings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetland Connectivity Thresholds and Flow Dynamics From Stage Measurements

McLaughlin

Diamond

Quintero

et al. 2019

Water Resources Research

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“…() and Smith et al. () provided context for how hydrologic connectivity of nonfloodplain wetlands affects biota.…”

Section: Featured Collection On Aquatic System Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Featured Collection Introduction: The Emerging Science of Aquatic System Connectivity I

Jones

Nelson

Smith

2019

J American Water Resour Assoc

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The growing aquatic system science community includes interdisciplinary researchers collectively working to improve the physical, chemical, and biological functions of aquatic systems. Connectivity describes the flow of materials, organisms, and energy between ecosystems or ecosystem components, and it serves as a unifying concept for the study, management, and restoration of aquatic systems. This featured collection was motivated by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Specialty Conference, Connecting the Dots: The Emerging Science of Aquatic System Connectivity. Held in May 2017 in Snowbird, Utah, the conference consisted of 33 technical sessions with over 140 presenters from across engineering, earth science, and life science disciplines. Session topics ranged from basic and applied research, to management applications and policy discussions. This collection, the first in a series of two, contains 11 manuscripts and builds upon the momentum of the AWRA specialty conference by facilitating continued conversations about aquatic systems connectivity and providing guidance for future interdisciplinary research.

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“…Some reptile species within sandhills, such as several turtle species and swamp snakes (Seminatrix pygaea (Cope, 1871)), use ponds as their primary habitat (Ashton and Ashton, 1985); others are fully terrestrial, but often include pond margins within their home ranges (Palmer, 1995). Thus, the longleaf pine-wiregrass uplands surrounding ponds are the primary habitat for most sandhill herpetofauna, and provide biological connectivity (Smith et al 2018).…”

Section: R a F Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term response to season of burn by amphibians and reptiles in a Florida longleaf pine – wiregrass sandhill

2019

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We investigated how herpetofauna respond to burning and burn season in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) sandhills by contrasting preburn species richness, diversity, and evenness and captures of six reptile and six amphibian species to the first (Y+1) or second (Y+2) year after burn or between dormant-season burns (DSB) and growing-season burns (GSB). Responses to burning overall or burn season were inconsistent among species; several showed no response, whereas others responded positively or negatively. Most responses were evident only in Y+1. Reptile species richness, diversity, and evenness responses were not detected. Amphibian richness increased after burning overall; diversity and evenness decreased more in GSB than in DSB in Y+1. Southern toad (Anaxyrus terrestris (Bonnaterre, 1789)) captures increased and Florida crowned snake (Tantilla relicta Telford, 1966) captures decreased following burns overall in Y+1. Ground skink (Scincella lateralis (Say in James, 1823)) captures increased more in DSB than GSB in Y+1. Florida gopher frog (Lithobates capito (LeConte, 1855)) and southeastern five-lined skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus; Taylor, 1932) captures increased, and oak toad (Anaxyrus quercicus (Holbrook, 1840)) decreased more in GSB than DSB in Y+2. Responses were likely due to changes in aboveground activity affecting captures or (for amphibians especially) annual variability in captures unrelated to burns. Our results indicated that reptiles and amphibians of sandhills are resilient to short-term effects of burning overall and burn season.

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Biological Connectivity of Seasonally Ponded Wetlands across Spatial and Temporal Scales

Cited by 37 publications

References 182 publications

Wetland Connectivity Thresholds and Flow Dynamics From Stage Measurements

Wetland Connectivity Thresholds and Flow Dynamics From Stage Measurements

Featured Collection Introduction: The Emerging Science of Aquatic System Connectivity I

Short-term response to season of burn by amphibians and reptiles in a Florida longleaf pine – wiregrass sandhill

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