Source: UNIV OF CALIFORNIA submitted to
BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE BIODIVERSITY OF TEMPORARY WATERS IN CALIFORNIA
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Lawler, S. P.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
ENTOMOLOGY
UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
DAVIS,CA 95616
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Research on temporary waters is essential to understand their contribution to regional biodiversity. We will assess how an introduced predator affects a threatened amphibian in semi-permanent ponds, evaluate vernal pool restorations, and quantify the role of habitat heterogeneity in supporting the biodiversity of temporary streams. To quantify factors affecting the biodiversity of temporary waters
 
OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of this project is to quantify how biotic and abiotic factors determine the species composition and diversity of temporary waters; this will provide information needed to preserve aquatic biodiversity in California. Research on the effects of mosquitofish on a declining amphibian will allow Mosquito Control Districts to assess whether mosquitofish should be used for biological control in semi-permanent ponds. An experimental study of aquatic community assembly in restored vernal pools will reveal how restoration success is influenced by pool size, hydroperiod, and proximity to natural pools. Finally, a study of temporary streams will quantify the importance of serpentine soils and fire to regional biodiversity in California's Coastal Range.
 
APPROACH: An experiment to test effects of mosquitofish on salamanders will take place in 12 earthen ponds measuring 3.05 m x 6.10 m X 0.5 m. Ponds will receive natural densities of algae, zooplankton, insects and hatchling salamanders, and 6 ponds will also receive the average overwintered density of mosquitofish. Invertebrates will be sampled to provide data on availability of resources for fish and salamanders. Salamanders will be counted and weighed as they metamorphose, and fish will be counted. Results will help mosquito abatement districts make environmentally sound management decisions. To test the effectiveness of vernal pool restoration, we are sampling 45 constructed pools that vary in pond size (small, medium and large) and distance from natural `source' pools (10-25 m from source, 70-90 m from source, 140-155 m from source), plus 10 natural pools. Sampling consists of 3 1-m plankton tows and 3 1-m sweep-net samples of larger invertebrates every 2 -4 weeks during the wet season for 4 years. Results will show the relative importance of pond size, hydroperiod, and distance from a source to pool restoration. Finally, we will quantify the effects of serpentine soils and fire on temporary stream biodiversity at the McLaughlin Natural Reserve by sampling macro-invertebrates from at least 4 streams of each of the following types: serpentine, burned; serpentine, unburned; non-serpentine, unburned; non-serpentine, burned. Macro-invertebrates will be collected from 6 cylindrical quadrat samples (415 cm2) in each stream along two 50 m transects, at monthly intervals in Spring and Summer. We will collect a variety of physical/chemical data on water samples. Analysis of samples will show how community composition and biodiversity respond to fire and other abiotic conditions at the sites.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0185244 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: CA-D*-ENT-6723-H SPONSOR AGENCY: CSREES
PROJECT TYPE: HATCH PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Oct 1, 2000 TERMINATION DATE: Sep 30, 2005

GRANT PROGRAM: (N/A)
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A)

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
135089910706.430%
211033010704.240%
135311011306.430%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife
KA211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants
S3110 - Insects
S0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other
S0330 - Wetland and riparian systems
F1130 - Entomology and acarology
F1070 - Ecology
G6.4 - Protect and Enhance Wildlife Habitat
G4.2 - Reduce Number and Severity of Pest and Disease Outbreaks


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC 50%
APPLIED 50%
DEVELOPMENTAL (N/A)%

KEYWORDS: aquatic invertebrates; biodiversity; environmental factors; wetlands; species composition; salamanders; insect control; culicidae; gambusia affinis; gambusia holbrooki; fish; non target organisms; streams; pools; biological control (insects); soil characteristics; predator prey relations; predators

PROGRESS: Oct 1, 2000 TO Sep 30, 2005
This is the termination report for this project. Over the past five years, my students and I have made significant advances in understanding both biotic and abiotic forces that affect the biodiversity of temporary waters in California. One Master's thesis (Mary Greaves) and one Ph.D. thesis (Karen Leyse) were completed under the auspices of this project, along with three peer-reviewed papers and several presentations given at national meetings (e.g. the North American Benthological Society and the Ecological Society of America). Ms. Greaves' thesis showed that temporary streams have significant invertebrate biodiversity, and that the underlying geology and hydroperiod of the streams had strong effects on the abundance and diversity of insects. Ms. Leyse's dissertation includes a chapter demonstrating that mosquitofish reduce abundances of fairy shrimp, and a chapter showing that introduced mosquitofish impact an endangered native salamander. The former has been published and Ms. Leyse is preparing the latter for publication, along with other manuscripts showing that introduced trout have strong impacts on native long-toed salamanders in high-elevation lakes. In her work she is also researching how hydroperiod affects the persistence of the salamanders. In addition, I co-authored a paper discussing how natural microcosms, especially small temporary-water habitats, can be used to advance the science of ecology (Srivastava et al. 2004). This paper complements an earlier publication on evaluating full-scale rice fields as a manipulable field system for studying seasonal wetlands (Lawler 2001, Israel J. Zool. 47:513-528). In that paper I reviewed how hydroperiod, growing techniques, and the presence of fish influenced the biodiversity of rice fields and their suitability as habitat for native species.

IMPACT: 2000-10-01 TO 2005-09-30 Our research on invertebrates in temporary streams shows that even the smallest, temporary headwaters of California have a high diversity of invertebrates, and that there is considerable heterogeneity between sites, that makes conservation of a variety of sites crucial. Our work on how introduced fish affect native amphibians has informed Mosquito and Vector Control Districts (MVCDs) that mosquitofish interfere with preservation of California Tiger Salamander populations in semi-permanent waters, and conservation of fairy shrimp in temporary waters. This information helps MVCDs and wildlife managers protect an endemic, declining amphibian, thus helping to preserve California's biodiversity. Two review papers showcased the uses of temporary waters as model systems in ecology; these papers will be of use to ecologists in identifying productive study systems.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2000-10-01 TO 2005-09-30
Leyse, K. E. 2005. Intentional Introductions and Biodiversity in Fishless Waters: the Effects of Introduced Fish on Native Aquatic Species. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Davis, CA. 153 pp.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Lawler, S. P.
PHONE: 530-754-8341
FAX: 530-752-1537