Tulula Wetlands - Vernal Pond Construction

Vernal Pond Restoration

Director of Research: Dr. Jim Petranka

UNCA Undergraduate Researchers (1994-2005): Athena Anderson, Kelly Booth, Louise Burley, Cindy Byron, Joyce Cacka, Kat Dunham, Cady Etheredge, Jen Hamel, Katie Harmuth, Liz Harp, Shane Hill, Tate Holbrook, Mark Hopey, Betsy Jay, Caroline Kennedy, Lauren Lawson, Julia Lloyd-Cowden, Anna Moyer, Andrea Rushlow, Lee Rushlow, Susan Murray, Abigail Vitale, Scot Waring, Ted Williams, Rose Wood.

(1) Pond Construction Phase

(3)Functional Vernal Pond about one year after construction

(2) Initial Filling - 3 mo post-construction

Restoration of Vernal Pond Habitats-- The Tulula Wetlands support a diverse array of amphibians including species that breed in vernal ponds and other fish-free bodies of standing water. Many of the natural breeding sites were destroyed during golf course construction and low-lying areas that hold water seasonally were filled. As part of site restoration, we constructed 10 vernal ponds in 1995-1996 to create habitats to sustain viable populations of spotted salamanders, wood frogs, four-toed salamanders and other vernal pond specialists that reside in isolated wetlands in mountainous terrain. We spaced ponds so that they would be sufficiently close to allow juvenile frogs and salamanders to disperse to adjoining ponds. The spacing of ponds also assured that recolonization could occur in the event of a local population extinction. We contoured pond bottoms to provide both deep water and shallow water microhabitats for amphibian larvae, and dug no deeper that 60-80 cm so that ponds would dry seasonally and predatory fish would be excluded from the breeding sites. Ponds filled within 2-3 months after they were constructed and a variety of aquatic organisms and hydric plants became established within one year.

With respect to amphibians, we have monitored pond colonization and the reproductive success of colonists since 1996 to determine whether the ponds are functioning adequately. Wood frogs and spotted salamanders rapidly colonized the newly constructed vernal ponds during the spring of 1996; by 1997 seven species of amphibians were utilizing the constructed ponds. We find that local species diversity and output of juvenile frogs and salamanders is higher in constructed vernal ponds compared to other breeding sites. The constructed ponds are now the primary breeding sites of vernal pond breeders at Tulula and are sustaining breeding populations of spring peepers, gray treefrogs, wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and other amphibians. We are concerned that the long-term viability of populations may be compromised by two emerging pathogens that have been documented on site, Ranavirus and a chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We are tracking populations of focal species to determine the extent to which they are being adversely affected by these pathogens.

Lee and Andrea Rushlow, Betsy Jay
Basic Research on Species Interactions.-- In addition to tracking pond colonization and population dynamics of amphibians at Tulula, we are conducting basic research on factors that organize and structure aquatic amphibian communities along hydrological gradients. The Tulula Wetlands support a variety of aquatic sites that range from permanent ponds that contain centrarchid fish to ephemeral puddles and ponds that lack fish. I am particularly interested in predator-prey interactions between fish, insects, and amphibian larvae and the role of seasonal hydroperiod in mediating these interactions.

My colleagues and I are using information from basic research to design high-quality breeding habitats for amphibians as part of transportation mitigation projects. We have conducted a series of experiments in conjunction with undergraduate research projects to examine interactions of amphibians with fishes, predatory insects, and tadpoles that are amphibian egg predators (see publications for relevant citations). Data that has been generated from these studies will be of value in designing future wetland complexes in the southern Appalachians.


	Vernal Pond Restoration
	Director of Research: Dr. Jim Petranka UNCA Undergraduate Researchers (1994-2005): Athena Anderson, Kelly Booth, Louise Burley, Cindy Byron, Joyce Cacka, Kat Dunham, Cady Etheredge, Jen Hamel, Katie Harmuth, Liz Harp, Shane Hill, Tate Holbrook, Mark Hopey, Betsy Jay, Caroline Kennedy, Lauren Lawson, Julia Lloyd-Cowden, Anna Moyer, Andrea Rushlow, Lee Rushlow, Susan Murray, Abigail Vitale, Scot Waring, Ted Williams, Rose Wood.
	(1) Pond Construction Phase (3)Functional Vernal Pond about one year after construction	(2) Initial Filling - 3 mo post-construction
	Restoration of Vernal Pond Habitats-- The Tulula Wetlands support a diverse array of amphibians including species that breed in vernal ponds and other fish-free bodies of standing water. Many of the natural breeding sites were destroyed during golf course construction and low-lying areas that hold water seasonally were filled. As part of site restoration, we constructed 10 vernal ponds in 1995-1996 to create habitats to sustain viable populations of spotted salamanders, wood frogs, four-toed salamanders and other vernal pond specialists that reside in isolated wetlands in mountainous terrain. We spaced ponds so that they would be sufficiently close to allow juvenile frogs and salamanders to disperse to adjoining ponds. The spacing of ponds also assured that recolonization could occur in the event of a local population extinction. We contoured pond bottoms to provide both deep water and shallow water microhabitats for amphibian larvae, and dug no deeper that 60-80 cm so that ponds would dry seasonally and predatory fish would be excluded from the breeding sites. Ponds filled within 2-3 months after they were constructed and a variety of aquatic organisms and hydric plants became established within one year. With respect to amphibians, we have monitored pond colonization and the reproductive success of colonists since 1996 to determine whether the ponds are functioning adequately. Wood frogs and spotted salamanders rapidly colonized the newly constructed vernal ponds during the spring of 1996; by 1997 seven species of amphibians were utilizing the constructed ponds. We find that local species diversity and output of juvenile frogs and salamanders is higher in constructed vernal ponds compared to other breeding sites. The constructed ponds are now the primary breeding sites of vernal pond breeders at Tulula and are sustaining breeding populations of spring peepers, gray treefrogs, wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and other amphibians. We are concerned that the long-term viability of populations may be compromised by two emerging pathogens that have been documented on site, Ranavirus and a chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We are tracking populations of focal species to determine the extent to which they are being adversely affected by these pathogens.
	Lee and Andrea Rushlow, Betsy Jay	Basic Research on Species Interactions.-- In addition to tracking pond colonization and population dynamics of amphibians at Tulula, we are conducting basic research on factors that organize and structure aquatic amphibian communities along hydrological gradients. The Tulula Wetlands support a variety of aquatic sites that range from permanent ponds that contain centrarchid fish to ephemeral puddles and ponds that lack fish. I am particularly interested in predator-prey interactions between fish, insects, and amphibian larvae and the role of seasonal hydroperiod in mediating these interactions.
	My colleagues and I are using information from basic research to design high-quality breeding habitats for amphibians as part of transportation mitigation projects. We have conducted a series of experiments in conjunction with undergraduate research projects to examine interactions of amphibians with fishes, predatory insects, and tadpoles that are amphibian egg predators (see publications for relevant citations). Data that has been generated from these studies will be of value in designing future wetland complexes in the southern Appalachians.