Karst aquatic ecosystems of the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas, USA: A consideration of their importance, threats to their existence, and efforts for their conservation

Bowles, David E.; Arsuffi, Thomas L.

doi:10.1002/aqc.3270030406

Cited by 71 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The karst aquifers of the Edwards Plateau, in central Texas, contribute to thousands of springs (Brune, 1981) that are home to approximately 90 endemic animal species, including subterranean and surface-dwelling invertebrates and salamanders, and several species of fish (Bowles & Arsuffi, 1993). The Jollyville Plateau salamander, Eurycea tonkawae Chippindale, Price, Wiens, and Hillis, a perennibranchiate member of the family Plethodontidae, is endemic to springs and caves of the Jollyville segment of the Edwards Plateau.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of the Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae: Plethodontidae) with an Assessment of the Potential Effects of Urbanization

Bowles

Sanders²,

Hansen³

2006

Hydrobiologia

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The Jollyville Plateau salamander, Eurycea tonkawae Chippindale, Price, Wiens, and Hillis, inhabits springs and wet caves of the Jollyville segment of the Edwards Plateau, Texas. The known range of this species is limited to six stream drainages, and most known localities are at risk of impairment from urban development. Our purpose was to gather needed autecological information on E. tonkawae and evaluate factors that may affect the distribution and abundance of the species. We conducted visual salamander surveys at nine stream sites across the Jollyville Plateau between December 1996 and December 1998. The survey sites were classified as undeveloped or developed based on watershed impervious cover estimates. We characterized the habitat for each site, including substrate type, discharge, and water quality. Salamander counts varied seasonally, but generally were higher during spring and summer. Salamander densities across sites were positively correlated with rubble and cobble substrate density as preferred cover, and negatively correlated with the standard deviation of water temperature, as expected for a spring-adapted species. In addition, we found that mean salamander densities at sites occurring in undeveloped watersheds were significantly higher than at developed sites, where specific conductance of the water was higher. The results of this study suggest that while habitat and seasonal factors influence surface salamander densities, E. tonkawae populations may be most vulnerable to effects associated with urbanization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of the Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae: Plethodontidae) with an Assessment of the Potential Effects of Urbanization

Bowles

Sanders²,

Hansen³

2006

Hydrobiologia

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“…Therefore, high discharges from the springs that create faster flows could restrict T. granifera from achieving higher densities in lotic habitats where native E. comalensis achieve their highest densities. Conversely, when spring flow declines due to pumping of the underground aquifer and/or droughts that cause reduced spring flows (Bowles & Arsuffi, 1993;Crowe & Sharp, 1997), the conditions could become more lentic. Under increasingly lentic conditions, T. granifera densities could increase in the reduced flows of the spring runs, inducing stronger interactions and possible competitive exclusion of E. comalensis.…”

Section: Interactions Of Native and Exotic Snails And Their Distributmentioning

confidence: 97%

Habitat influences snail community structure and trematode infection levels in a spring-fed river, Texas, USA

Tolley-Jordan

Owen

2007

Hydrobiologia

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The spring-fed Comal River in Texas, USA, has been impounded and channelized resulting mainly in a lentic environment with four headwater spring runs. We sampled two spring runs (lotic sites) and two lentic sites seasonally from April 2001 through April 2002 to assess (1) co-occurrence of native and exotic snail species (as determined by interspecific association), (2) the importance of habitat conditions in structuring relationships among these species, and (3) the distribution of snails infected with exotic trematode parasites. Three exotic and four endemic species of aquatic snails were collected, but only Elimia comalensis (Prosobranchia: Pleuroceridae, native), Melanoides tuberculatus, and Tarebia granifera (Prosobranchia: Thiaridae, exotic) were in sufficient densities for further analyses.Tarebia granifera was positively associated with both M. tuberculatus (v 2 = 18.5, P \ 0.001) and E. comalensis (v 2 = 7.3, P \ 0.01), although the cooccurrence between the two exotics was much stronger. Melanoides tuberculatus and E. comalensis exhibited a strong, negative association (v 2 = 10.9, P \ 0.001). The weaker co-occurrence between E. comalensis with the thiarids appeared to be driven by differences in habitat use by the thiarids and native E. comalensis. In lentic habitats, densities of M. tuberculatus and T. granifera were similar but differed significantly from E. comalensis whose densities were 200 times less than the exotic snails. In lotic spring runs, densities of T. granifera and E. comalensis were similar, but differed significantly from M. tuberculatus whose densities were 10 times fewer. Lower densities of M. tuberculatus and T. granifera in habitat conditions common to the spring runs may explain why exotic snail interactions were less with the native E. comalensis than with each other. The native snail, E. comalensis, was not infected with any trematodes, while 6.1% of M. tuberculatus and 4.8% of T. granifera were infected with exotic trematodes. Distributions of infected snails were aggregated; such that most infected snails were found in lentic habitats with silt substrates and moderate to high levels of detritus. Continued declines in spring-flows due to aquifer withdrawals and droughts will increase lentic habitats that may lead to increased densities of T. granifera and M. tuberculatus and their concomitant parasites.

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“…The Balcones Escarpment comprises one of the most biologically diverse regions in the Nation (The Nature Conservancy, 2008) with unique, relict, and endemic terrestrial, aquatic, and stygobitic (subterranean) biota Amos and Gehlbach, 1988;Bowles and Arsuffi, 1993; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1996;Zara Environmental, 2010). This diversity is driven in part by local and regional climatic gradients ( fig.…”

Section: Ecological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical and projected climate (1901–2050) and hydrologic response of karst aquifers, and species vulnerability in south-central Texas and western South Dakota

Stamm¹,

Poteet²,

Symstad³

et al. 2014

Scientific Investigations Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Stamm, J.F., Poteet, M.F., Symstad, A.J., Musgrove, MaryLynn, Long, A.J., Mahler, B.J., and Norton, P. A., 2015A., , Historical and projected climate (1901A., -2050 Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.Water year is the 12-month period, October 1 through September 30, and is designated by the calendar year in which it ends.Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Flora and fauna that rely on springflow from Edwards and Madison aquifer sites were assessed for vulnerability to projected climate change on the basis of the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI). The CCVI is determined by the exposure of a species to climate, the sensitivity of the species, and the ability of the species to cope with climate change. Sixteen species associated with springs and groundwater were assessed in the Balcones Escarpment region. The Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) was scored as highly vulnerable with moderate confidence. Nine species-three salamanders, a fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola), three insects, and two amphipods-were scored as moderately vulnerable. The remaining six species-four vascular plants, the Barton cavesnail (Stygopyrgus bartonensis), and a cave shrimp-were scored as not vulnerable/presumed stable (not vulnerable and evidence does not support change in abundance or range of the species). Vulnerability of eight species associated with streams that receive springflow from the Madison aquifer in the Black Hills was assessed. Of these, the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) and the lesser yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) were scored as moderately vulernable with high confidence. The dwarf scouringrush (Equisetum scirpoides) and autumn willow (Salix serissima) were also scored as moderately vulnerable with moderate to low confidence, respectively. Other species were assessed as not vulnerable/presumed stable or not vulnerable/increase likely (not vulnerable and evidence supporting an increase in abundance or range of the species). Lower vulnerability scores for the Black Hills species in comparison to the Balcones Escarpment spec...

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Karst aquatic ecosystems of the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas, USA: A consideration of their importance, threats to their existence, and efforts for their conservation

Cited by 71 publications

References 17 publications

Ecology of the Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae: Plethodontidae) with an Assessment of the Potential Effects of Urbanization

Ecology of the Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae: Plethodontidae) with an Assessment of the Potential Effects of Urbanization

Habitat influences snail community structure and trematode infection levels in a spring-fed river, Texas, USA

Historical and projected climate (1901–2050) and hydrologic response of karst aquifers, and species vulnerability in south-central Texas and western South Dakota

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