Temperature Loggers Capture Intraregional Variation of Inundation Timing for Intermittent Ponds

Abstract

Specific components of hydroperiod, such as inundation timing or stability, influence species density and richness (Florencio et al., 2020;Kneitel, 2014) and may play a key role in determining reproductive success of aquatic organisms such as amphibians (Paton & Crouch III, 2002).The wide-ranging effects of hydroperiod on individual organisms, populations, and ecological communities necessitate tools to enable fine-scale measurement and monitoring of the timing, frequency, and duration of hydroperiod events in temporary lentic waters. Such tools will play an important role in predicting how hydroperiods may change in response to future water use and climate scenarios-and how organisms that rely on these habitats will fare. Satellite remote sensing tools such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (Bourgeau-

Technical Reports: Methods—The Application of Temperature and Light Intensity as Intermittency Sensors in a Temporary Pond

“…In addition, diurnal measures of metrics of temperature were greater than diel measures as heat was lost from both the aquatic and terrestrial phases throughout the night. These results concur with others' use of temperature data loggers to distinguish hydrological state, notably through the use of DTR and tSD (Anderson et al., 2015; Celi & Hamilton, 2020; Gendreau et al., 2021).…”

“…In addition, diurnal measures of metrics of temperature were greater than diel measures as heat was lost from both the aquatic and terrestrial phases throughout the night. These results concur with others' use of temperature data loggers to distinguish hydrological state, notably through the use of DTR and tSD (Anderson et al, 2015;Celi & Hamilton, 2020;Gendreau et al, 2021). As with temperature, metrics of light intensity had lower values and less variability in the aquatic phase than in the terrestrial phase, with diurnal values greater than diel values.…”

“…As temporary ponds are dynamic environments, periods of drying can be met with further inundation shortly, returning the area to more aquatic conditions (Figure 8). The detection of drying is also documented in the temperature data of other studies, indicating the application of this concept across geographical scales (Arismendi et al, 2017;Constantz & Thomas, 1996;Gendreau et al, 2021).…”

“…Intermittency sensors can be used in addition to site visits and camera trap data for validation of hydrological state and to provide a better understanding of small‐scale spatial heterogeneity (Gendreau et al., 2021). Given the range of overlapping values in using temperature and light intensity data in the current study, the use of conductivity in intermittency sensors is preferred for decisively determining hydrological state.…”

“…In such a condition, metrics of light intensity and lSD could prove more useful. Despite this limitation, findings are strengthened when coupled with additional loggers and control treatments from other studies (Constantz & Thomas, 1996;Gendreau et al, 2021). However, more research is needed to strengthen methodologies and map the small-scale hydrological variation inherent in heterogenous landscapes.…”