Use of Artificial Enclosures to Determine the Survival of Rana pipiens Larvae in Upper Midwestern Agricultural Ponds

Authors

Joshua M. Kapfer, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Mark B. Sandheinrich, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseFollow
Melinda G. Knutson, United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

larval Rana pipiens, survival, agriculture, field study, enclosures

Abstract

Amphibians in the upper Midwest use agricultural ponds for breeding. Unfortunately, the risks (both direct and indirect) associated with using these ponds are poorly understood in both amphibian adults and larvae. In order to quantify these risks, we performed a comparison of larval survival rates between agricultural and natural ponds in southeastern Minnesota during the spring and summer of 2001. During this time, larval survival was observed in Rana pipiens tadpoles raised through metamorphosis in enclosures placed in agricultural and natural ponds. In addition, we measured the levels of nutrients commonly linked with agricultural ponds (i.e., ammonia, total phosphorous, and total nitrogen), and whether or not nutrient concentration was associated with larval survival. No differences were detected in nutrient levels or survival of larvae reared in agricultural and natural ponds. Furthermore, neither nutrient levels nor pond type significantly predicted larval survival. Our data were highly variable, making the interpretation of our results difficult. The enclosures used to rear tadpoles were highly effective and can be easily incorporated into future studies.

Publication Date

July-December 2006

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

113

Issue

3-4

First Page

81

Last Page

86

Copyright

© Copyright 2008 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Kapfer, Joshua M.; Sandheinrich, Mark B.; and Knutson, Melinda G. (2006) "Use of Artificial Enclosures to Determine the Survival of Rana pipiens Larvae in Upper Midwestern Agricultural Ponds," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 113(3-4), 81-86.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol113/iss3/5