Amphibian populations at the Celery Bog Nature Area and the potential effects of land use and water quality

Dane Brown, Purdue University

Abstract

Amphibian populations have been declining worldwide for the last century and the major cause of these declines have been habitat destruction. The Celery Bog was once drained for agricultural purposes but has since been restored to a wetland. Amphibian populations had not previously been studied at the Celery Bog Nature Area. This study provided baseline data on amphibians at the Celery Bog Nature Area for the city of West Lafayette. Amphibian mating calls and search and seize surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to monitor amphibian populations. In 2008 and 2009 water samples were collected and analyzed for nitrate/nitrite, phosphate, and pH. The land use was analyzed using ArcGIS. The study found eight species of amphibians living in the nature area. The pothole wetlands not connected to the Celery Bog had the highest species richness both years. The nitrate/nitrite and phosphate levels were below levels that would impact amphibians. In 2009 the pH levels in the Celery Bog were higher than 8.5 on average which could potential impact amphibian populations. There was a negative correlation between species richness and pH in 2009. There was a positive correlation between the species richness and percentage of natural habitat inside each of the four buffer zones (30m, 60m, 289m, and 1km). The Celery Bog Nature Area provides multiple types of habitat for amphibian populations and safe corridors for amphibians to migrate through.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Shepardson, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Environmental science

COinS