schoff

Effects of Multiple Stressors on Aquatic Communities in the Prairie Pothole Region: 

Effects of Multiple Stressors on Aquatic Communities in the Prairie Pothole Region Patrick K. Schoff and Lucinda B. Johnson Natural Resources Research Institute University of Minnesota Duluth Glenn Guntenspergen US Geological Survey Patuxent River, Maryland Carter Johnson South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota

Slide2: 

UV exotics pesticides emerging diseases new parasites development / habitat fragmentation acidification pharmaceuticals eutrophication desiccation novel predators temperature Amphibian Stressors

Indicators of Ecosystems in Jeopardy: 

Indicators of Ecosystems in Jeopardy population reductions Emerging diseases of wildlife Human epidemiology cancers asthma heart disease Wildlife epidemiology intersex parasites cancers malformation exotic / invasive species local extinctions species extinction Degraded Environment CWD BSE / vJCD AIDS SARS Ebola Avian Influenza West Nile Virus Emerging diseases in humans

Prairie Pothole Region: 

Prairie Pothole Region Critical freshwater resource habitat - breeding waterfowl - migration stopover - macroinvertebrates - amphibians flood water storage

Slide5: 

Anthropogenic Stressors Affecting the Prairie Pothole Region Climate change increased temperature decreased moisture UV radiation reduced DOC inputs (?) Habitat restructuring/destruction ~50% of wetlands drained in previous century remaining wetlands embedded in agricultural matrix Agricultural practices excess nutrients pesticides

Stressor Effects on Amphibians: 

Stressor Effects on Amphibians Global Climate Change Agricultural Practices { { habitat restructuring pesticides nutrients accelerated development immune dysfunction species diversity (?) physiological stress immune dysfunction disease susceptibility developmental anomalies Stressors Biological Effects

Objectives: 

Objectives Quantify relationships among differing land use, amphibian community structure and composition in the prairie pothole region. hydroperiod (semi-permanent v. seasonal) crop v. grassland Quantify relationships among physical and chemical wetland attributes on amphibian organismal and community responses. hydroperiod thermal regime pH

Objectives, cont.: 

Objectives, cont. 3. Quantify the effects of multiple stressors on health and organismal responses of Rana pipiens. shortened hydroperiod increased UV-B radiation 4. Predict potential effects of multiple stressors on prairie pothole wetlands and associated amphibian communities.

Stressor Effects on Amphibians: 

Stressor Effects on Amphibians Accelerated Hydroperiod (warmer, less water) faster development smaller metamorphs reduced fat stores = reduced fitness Increased UV-B radiation (ozone depletion, +/- reduced DOC) edema malformations impaired immune function mutagenic effects Atrazine (most commonly used herbicide) endocrine disruption (?) - gonadal dysmorphogenesis (♂♀) - laryngeal muscle reduction (♂) developmental delays

Approach: 

Approach Landscape scale (Extensive study) relationships among amphibian community structure, land use, and wetland hydrologic regime Wetland scale (Intensive study) relationships among individual wetlands (hydroperiod, physico-chemical), land uses (e.g. pesticides), UV-B, amphibian abundance, community structure, and health Mesocosm scale effects of multiple stressors (hydroperiod and pesticide) on Rana pipiens development and health

project organization: 

project organization

Multiple Stressors Study: 

Multiple Stressors Study Extensive study: Prairie Pothole Region goal = 120 wetlands (2004 = 63 wetlands) 2004, 2005 Intensive study: Prairie Coteau ecoregion goal = 60 wetlands (2003 = 27 wetlands) a portion under study in an ongoing hydrological research program 2003 - 2005 Mesocosm study: 2003 pilot study 2004 – 2005 full-scale 2 hydroperiod categories: seasonal semi-permanent 2 use classes: row crop grazing/pasture

Prairie Pothole Region: 

Prairie Pothole Region

Intensive Study (2003 – 2005): 

Intensive Study (2003 – 2005) Wetland morphology size; configuration; depth profile; hydrologic regime Habitat vegetative cover maps; land use; distance to wetlands, fields, roads & structures Water column continuous temp; sp. conductance; pH; depth (weekly); spectral scans; UV attenuation; pesticide analysis (atrazine); chlorophyll-A Microclimate temperature; humidity; precipitation; cloud cover; wind speed Amphibian community calling surveys; VES surveys & trapping for amphibian larvae (biweekly) Category Parameter

Wetland Temperatures - 2003: 

Wetland Types Temperature (oC) Wetland Temperatures - 2003

Water Loss in Wetlands - 2003: 

Water Loss in Wetlands - 2003 Week in 2003 Proportion of sites containing water

Metamorphs Captured – Week 10: 

Water depth (cm) Metamorphs collected Metamorphs Captured – Week 10

Wetland pH - 2003: 

Wetland pH - 2003 Wetland Types pH

Wetland Conductivity - 2003: 

Wetland Conductivity - 2003 Conductivity (mS) Wetland Types

Malformation Prevalence - 2003: 

Malformation Prevalence - 2003 Wetland Types % Malformed

Malformations - 2003: 

Malformations - 2003

Malformation Prevalence by Wetland Type: 

Malformation Prevalence by Wetland Type Wetland Category Wetlands Metas. Malfs. Prev. (%) Semi-permanent crop 1 132 2 1.5 Semi-permanent grassland 8 913 25 2.4 Seasonal crop 1 153 12 7.8 Seasonal grassland 2 277 6 2.2 Total 12 1475 45 3.1%

Extensive Study Blocks (2004): 

Extensive Study Blocks (2004) Miles

Extensive Study (2004 – 2005): 

Extensive Study (2004 – 2005) Wetland morphology size; configuration; depth profile; hydrologic regime Habitat vegetative cover maps; land use; distance to wetlands, fields, roads, & structures Water column temperature; pH; spectral scans; water color @ 440 nm Microclimate temperature; humidity; precipitation; cloud cover; wind speed Amphibian community calling surveys; VES surveys & trapping for amphibian larvae Category Parameter

Mesocosm Scale: 

Mesocosm Scale Goal – replicate environmentally relevant multiple stressor exposure under controlled conditions: 1. accelerated hydroperiod 2. atrazine Hydroperiod 1. normal hydroperiod – drawdown tied to field conditions 2. accelerated hydroperiod – drawdown at increased rate Atrazine 1. 0.1 mg/L – found by Hayes and others to cause gonadal dysmophogenesis 2. 20 mg/L – commonly found in ground and surface water in corn-growing areas 3. 200 mg/L – occasionally found in surface water

Mesocosms - 2003: 

Mesocosms - 2003 “Pilot year” for mesocosms (late start limited options) survival density temperature feeding atrazine exposure tests: 1) control, no addition 2) solvent (acetone) 3) atrazine, 20 mg/L 4) atrazine, 200 mg/L Results: limited development no metamorphs Interpretation: suspect water source late collection of tadpoles long holding time in aquarium high temperatures in mesocosms

Mesocosms - 2004: 

Mesocosms - 2004 Modifications: lake water addition of shade cloth insulated tubs with straw successful early egg mass collection limited holding time (larvae transferred at Gosner stage 20+)

Mesocosms - 2004: 

Mesocosms - 2004 Treatments (stressors): hydrology: normal or accelerated atrazine: 0, 0.1, 20,200 mg/L

Modeling: 

Modeling Multi-basin wetland complex model based on WETSIM (Poiani et al. 1996) Consists of interacting submodel components: surface water, groundwater, and vegetation. Simulates changes in water level and vegetation cover for prairie wetland complexes that include 3 hydrologic classes: semi-permanent, seasonal, temporary HADCM3 climate scenarios will be used to parameterize model.

Modeling Climate Change: 

Modeling Climate Change Algona, IA Central Tall Grasslands Crookston, MN Northern Tall Grasslands Minot, ND Northern Mixed Grasslands Watertown, SD Prairie Coteau

Modeling Climate Change: 

Modeling Climate Change

Challenges: 

Challenges 1. Site availability and landowner cooperation. farmer/rancher sensitivity to researchers lack of “crop” wetland sites 2. Who would do wetland research in a drought? 3. UV monitoring in continually windy conditions. 4. Availability of target frog (Rana pipiens) eggs for mesocosms; variability due to local weather & short-term climate conditions. 5. Mesocosms: frog survival metamorph development

Slide33: 

RD-83087901-0

Acknowledgments: 

Acknowledgments Dr. Catherine Johnson, National Forest Service Dr. Nels Troelstrup, South Dakota State University Jennifer Olker Milan Angela Rohweder Dena Shelley Katie Brown Deborah Endriss Chandler Schmutzer Denise Gregorie Janna Goldrup Sarah Syria Patti Kramer