Specific conductance of flatwood salamander breeding ponds: pre- and post-Hurricane Michael, 2013-2018
Dates
Publication Date
2019-06-18
Start Date
2013-04-10
End Date
2018-11-30
Citation
Barichivich, W.J., and Walls, S.C., 2019, Specific conductance of flatwood salamander breeding ponds: pre- and post-Hurricane Michael, 2013-2018: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9V4A2GV.
Summary
Hurricane Michael impacted the gulf coast of the southeastern USA in October 2018. During this storm, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, located along the northern Gulf of Mexico’s coast in the panhandle region of Florida, experienced storm surge that was 2.3 to 3.3 m above sea level. Storm surge pushed sea water into some ephemeral freshwater ponds used for breeding by the federally-threatened Frosted Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum). Not all breeding wetlands were inundated by storm surge but, of those that were, conductivity was 11.2 to 216.7 times greater than in spring 2018. After the storm, specific conductance varied from 80 to 23,100 µS/cm (compared to 75 to 445 µS/cm in Spring 2018), setting the stage for varying [...]
Summary
Hurricane Michael impacted the gulf coast of the southeastern USA in October 2018. During this storm, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, located along the northern Gulf of Mexico’s coast in the panhandle region of Florida, experienced storm surge that was 2.3 to 3.3 m above sea level. Storm surge pushed sea water into some ephemeral freshwater ponds used for breeding by the federally-threatened Frosted Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum). Not all breeding wetlands were inundated by storm surge but, of those that were, conductivity was 11.2 to 216.7 times greater than in spring 2018. After the storm, specific conductance varied from 80 to 23,100 µS/cm (compared to 75 to 445 µS/cm in Spring 2018), setting the stage for varying population responses across this coastal landscape. Importantly, we found live individual flatwoods salamanders at both overwashed and non-overwashed sites, although we cannot yet assess the demographic consequences of this storm.
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Related External Resources
Type: Related Primary Publication
Walls, S.C., Barichivich, W.J., Chandler, J., Meade, A.M., Milinichik, M., O'Donnell, K.M., Owens, M.E., Peacock, T., Reinman, J., Watling, R.C., and Wetsch, O.E., 2019, Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate: Ecology and Evolution, Early View, https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5277.
In response to indications of worldwide declines in amphibian populations, the President and Congress directed Interior Department agencies to initiate a national program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation. There is an urgent need to determine the scope and severity of the problem and to investigate causes. The U.S. Geological Survey is uniquely qualified to coordinate and lead a cooperative national effort because its scientists have been in the forefront of studying amphibian populations and life history traits, measuring and monitoring environmental characteristics, and conducting research into potential causes of decline. As a result, the Agency formed the National Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI).