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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Mercury Bioaccumulation In Wood Frogs Developing In Seasonal Pools, Cynthia Loftin, Aram J K Calhoun, Sarah J. Nelson, Adria A. Elskus, Kevin Simon Dec 2012

Mercury Bioaccumulation In Wood Frogs Developing In Seasonal Pools, Cynthia Loftin, Aram J K Calhoun, Sarah J. Nelson, Adria A. Elskus, Kevin Simon

Publications

Seasonal woodland pools contribute significant biomass to terrestrial ecosystems through production of pool-breeding amphibians. The movement of amphibian metamorphs potentially transports toxins bioaccumulated during larval development in the natal pool into the surrounding terrestrial environment. We documented total mercury (THg) in seasonal woodland pool water, sediment, litter, and Lithobates sylvaticus LeConte (Wood Frog) in Acadia National Park, ME. THg concentrations in pool water varied over the study season, increasing during April-June and remaining high in 2 of 4 pools upon October refill. Water in pools surrounded by softwoods had lower pH, greater dissolved organic carbon, and greater THg concentrations than …


The Effect Of Increasing Salinity And Forest Mortality On Soil Nitrogen And Phosphorus Mineralization In Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands, William Conner, Gregory Noe, B Graeme Lockaby, Ken Krauss Oct 2012

The Effect Of Increasing Salinity And Forest Mortality On Soil Nitrogen And Phosphorus Mineralization In Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands, William Conner, Gregory Noe, B Graeme Lockaby, Ken Krauss

Publications

Tidal freshwater wetlands are sensitive to sea level rise and increased salinity, although little information is known about the impact of salinification on nutrient biogeochemistry in tidal freshwater forested wetlands. We quantified soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) mineralization using seasonal in situincubations of modified resin cores along spatial gradients of chronic salinification (from continuously freshwater tidal forest to salt impacted tidal forest to oligohaline marsh) and in hummocks and hollows of the continuously freshwater tidal forest along the blackwater Waccamaw River and alluvial Savannah River. Salinification increased rates of net N and P mineralization fluxes and turnover in tidal …


The Role Of Forest Harvesting And Subsequent Vegetative Regrowth, Viorel D. Popsedu, David A. Patrick, Malcolm L. Hunter Jr., Aram J K Calhoun Jan 2012

The Role Of Forest Harvesting And Subsequent Vegetative Regrowth, Viorel D. Popsedu, David A. Patrick, Malcolm L. Hunter Jr., Aram J K Calhoun

Publications

Conservation of forest-dependent amphibians is dependent on finding a balance between timber management and species’ habitat requirements. To examine the effect of short-term vegetative regrowth post-harvesting on amphibian habitat use, we studied the response of eight species (four forest specialists and four habitat generalists) to four forestry treatments (partial harvest, clearcut with coarse woody debris [CWD] removed, clearcut with CWD retained, and uncut control) over a 6-year period, using replicated experimental treatments in Maine, USA. Forest amphibians showed a strong negative response to clearcutting through the duration of the study, regardless of the presence of CWD, but only during the …


Status Of Private Cypress Wetland Forests In Georgia - Alternatives For Conservation And Restoration, William Conner, Laura Fabrizio, Bill Sapp Jan 2012

Status Of Private Cypress Wetland Forests In Georgia - Alternatives For Conservation And Restoration, William Conner, Laura Fabrizio, Bill Sapp

Publications

No abstract provided.


Fuel Conditions Associated With Native And Exotic Grasses In A Subtropical Dry Forest In Puerto Rico, Jarrod M. Thaxton, Skip J. Van Bloem, Stefanie Whitmire Jan 2012

Fuel Conditions Associated With Native And Exotic Grasses In A Subtropical Dry Forest In Puerto Rico, Jarrod M. Thaxton, Skip J. Van Bloem, Stefanie Whitmire

Publications

Exotic grasses capable of increasing frequency and intensity of anthropogenic fire have invaded subtropical and tropical dry forests worldwide. Since many dry forest trees are susceptible to fire, this can result in decline of native species and loss of forest cover. While the contribution of exotic grasses to altered fire regimes has been well documented, the role of native grasses in contributing to fuel loads in dry forest has received little attention. We assessed differences in fuel conditions among native and exotic grasses within a subtropical dry forest preserve in Puerto Rico. We quantified fine fuel loads, fuel continuity, and …