Managing farm ponds as breeding sites for amphibians: key trade‐offs in agricultural function and habitat conservation

Swartz, Timothy M.; Miller, James R.

doi:10.1002/eap.1964

Cited by 20 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The second agricultural function of farm ponds-capturing eroding soil-may also be in conflict with habitat conservation. Pond renovation, a process whereby a pond is drained, dredged, and then rebuilt ( Figure 3; see [15]), is used to 'reset' pond succession and maintain the ability of ponds to mitigate erosion. Over time, ponds accumulate excessive sediment and lose their capacity to absorb runoff, thus becoming unreliable as livestock water sources.…”

Section: Balancing Agricultural and Ecological Functions In Farm Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These are just a few of the reasons that landowners may choose to renovate aging ponds. At the same time, succession-driven changes in biotic and abiotic habitat conditions (see [8]) can result in improved habitat quality for native aquatic species of conservation concern, including some amphibians [15]. By renovating ponds, landowners eliminate existing habitat and arrest future habitat development.…”

Section: Balancing Agricultural and Ecological Functions In Farm Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By renovating ponds, landowners eliminate existing habitat and arrest future habitat development. If widespread, renovation activities could have negative impacts on farm pond biodiversity (Swartz and Miller 2019). In central Texas, Berg, et al [20] found that about one-third of ponds had undergone renovation, but whether this rate is similar in other landscapes is unknown.…”

Section: Balancing Agricultural and Ecological Functions In Farm Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our study was conducted in the Grand River Grasslands, a region spanning Ringgold County, Iowa and Harrison County, Missouri (Figure 4). The Grand River Grasslands is located at the northern terminus of the Pond Belt, a pond-dense region that stretches along the eastern edge of the Great Plains from Southeastern Texas to Southwestern Iowa [15]. Ponds are numerous in the region, reaching densities greater than four ponds per km 2 [36].…”

Section: Study Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These ponds can also provide habitat for native wildlife [10,11]. While some research has addressed the role of these ponds in abiotic processes like sediment capture [12] and mercury pollution [8], little is known about their function and quality as wildlife habitat but see [13][14][15]. Furthermore, most ponds are located on private lands [13] but the drivers underlying the management decisions made by landowners, and the consequences of those behaviors for habitat quality, have not been addressed in the published literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Identifying Opportunities to Conserve Farm Ponds on Private Lands: Integration of Social, Ecological, and Historical Data

Swartz

Coon

Mattes

et al. 2019

Land

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In some landscapes, effective conservation of wildlife habitat requires extending beyond the boundaries of reserves and addressing stewardship of private lands. This approach could be especially valuable for the conservation of farm ponds, which are abundant and serve key agricultural functions on private lands. Though farm ponds also provide wildlife habitat, little is known about how they are managed or how values and beliefs of their owners relate to their quality. To address this knowledge gap, we collected data on pond habitat quality and management using historical aerial imagery and high-resolution Google Earth satellite imagery of the Grand River Grasslands of southern Iowa and Northern Missouri. We also collected spatially congruent social data using a mail back survey sent to 456 landowners in the region (32.7% response rate). We used mixed-effects linear regression to link indicators of habitat quality to the survey results. We found that many ponds were permanent, accessible to cattle, in early successional states, and had little wetland vegetation, indicating a scarcity of suitable habitat for wildlife. At the same time, 35–57% of survey respondents said they would be willing to change their management to benefit aquatic organisms. Our analyses indicated that higher cover of cattails correlated with ownership by respondents who regarded row crops or income from agriculture as less important and ponds tended to be temporary if owned by respondents who had many ponds. Moving forward, large landowners and those willing to manage their land to benefit wildlife may constitute a core set of future partners for conservation efforts focused on improving pond habitat in the region.

show abstract

Section: Balancing Agricultural and Ecological Functions In Farm Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Balancing Agricultural and Ecological Functions In Farm Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Balancing Agricultural and Ecological Functions In Farm Pondsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Identifying Opportunities to Conserve Farm Ponds on Private Lands: Integration of Social, Ecological, and Historical Data

Swartz

Coon

Mattes

et al. 2019

Land

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The American Pond Belt: an untold story of conservation challenges and opportunities

Swartz

Miller

2021

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the past century, millions of ponds have been constructed on farms across the eastern Great Plains of the US. Although these ponds have been built to provide water for livestock and reduce soil erosion, they also serve as habitat for native species in agricultural landscapes that historically lacked natural wetlands. Because this role in supporting biodiversity has been chronically underappreciated, approaches to managing these ponds effectively for conservation remain poorly developed. Here, we discuss the historical context of pond construction, the role of ponds in agriculture, and their present distribution across the “American Pond Belt”. On the basis of our review of their ecology and threats, we contend that farm pond conservation should focus on enhancing pondscapes – networks of ponds encompassing a range of successional stages – to support the broadest array of biodiversity at a landscape scale. We also highlight the role of scientists, agency personnel, policy makers, and landowners in the future conservation of pondscapes in the Great Plains.

show abstract

Amphibians and Reptiles

Pilliod,

Esque

2023

Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Amphibians and reptiles are a diverse group of ectothermic vertebrates that occupy a variety of habitats in rangelands of North America, from wetlands to the driest deserts. These two classes of vertebrates are often referred to as herpetofauna and are studied under the field of herpetology. In U.S. rangelands, there are approximately 66 species of frogs and toads, 58 salamanders, 98 lizards, 111 snakes, and 27 turtles and tortoises. Herpetofauna tend to be poorly studied compared with other vertebrates, which creates a challenge for biologists and landowners who are trying to manage rangeland activities for this diverse group of animals and their habitats. Degradation of habitats from human land use and alteration of natural processes, like wildfire, are primary threats to herpetofauna populations. Disease, non-native predators, collection for the pet trade, and persecution are also conservation concerns for some species. Properly managed livestock grazing is generally compatible with herpetofauna conservation, and private and public rangelands provide crucial habitat for many species. Climate change also poses a threat to herpetofauna, but we have an incomplete understanding of the potential effects on species. Dispersal and adaptation could provide some capacity for species to persist on rangelands as climates, disturbance regimes, and habitats change. However, inadequate information and considerable uncertainty will make climate mitigation planning difficult for the foreseeable future. Planning for and mitigating effects of climate change, and interactions with other stressors, is an urgent area for research. Maintaining large, heterogeneous land areas as rangelands will certainly be an important part of the conservation strategy for herpetofauna in North America.

show abstract

Managing farm ponds as breeding sites for amphibians: key trade‐offs in agricultural function and habitat conservation

Cited by 20 publications

References 52 publications

Identifying Opportunities to Conserve Farm Ponds on Private Lands: Integration of Social, Ecological, and Historical Data

Identifying Opportunities to Conserve Farm Ponds on Private Lands: Integration of Social, Ecological, and Historical Data

The American Pond Belt: an untold story of conservation challenges and opportunities

Amphibians and Reptiles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About