Durango Nature Studies Habitat Assessment 2013 Abby Romero

Executive Summary Durango Nature Studies is 140 acres of property. The property is controlled to conserve the native species existing there, specifically the native leopard frogs (Rana pipiens). Leopard frog populations have decreased due to invasive species, specifically the bullfrog (Rana catesbeianna). Bullfrogs compete for the same food as leopard frogs which has caused the decrease. Durango Nature Studies have seen an increase in bullfrogs since 2008. Therefore fieldwork has been conducted over the past few years to see the amphibian population trend. Conducting fieldwork at Durango Nature Studies this year will allow the data and trend to continue. Durango Nature Studies acquired the Nature Center property in 1998. The property includes a pond, different habitat types, and the Florida River which runs through it. Durango Nature Studies hosts many activities throughout the year involving people interacting with the natural environment, such as hikes, workshops, summer camps, and tours. Fieldwork was conducted to find out leopard frog population, macroinvertebrates (in both the river and pond), water quality (in both the river and pond), and the diversity of vegetation at the Nature Center. These tests allow for the estimation of leopard frog population and their habitat quality. Durango Nature Studies annual budget is $139,529 to maintain quality habitats and natural biodiversity. Conducting annual fieldwork to accurately assess the ecosystem allows for making recommendations for future management with the budget in mind.

Species Overview Rana pipiens Rana pipiens is a species of frog (Aneran) or more specifically a leopard frog. The size of the leopard frog is 5.1 to 9 cm which is moderately sized. They are found in most of the northern states of

the United States and far north into Canada. The species also ranges southward in the western United States because of the higher elevations. Their habitat requirements depend on the different times. In the winter time, they are hibernating in lakes, streams, and ponds. In the summer times, they are feeding by adults in upland areas. Lastly when they are tadpoles, they spend up to three months in shallow breeding ponds. Leopard frogs are primarily considered generalist insectivores but can also be carnivorous. They breed at many different times from mid-March to early June depending on where they are located. But at high elevations they often do not start breeding until April or May. Lastly, female leopard frogs lay a range of 645-6500 eggs at a time which makes an average of 3045 eggs (Smith 2004).

Rana Catesbeiana Rana catesbeiana is a species of frog (Aneran) or more specifically a bullfrog. The size of the bullfrog is quite large; it is about 10 to 18 cm. They are native of eastern North America, and they preferably live in large, deep water which is densely vegetated. But, invasive populations of bullfrogs have been established in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, and Italy). Young bullfrogs mainly eat invertebrates, but adult bullfrogs will eat anything they can manage, from invertebrates and amphibians to fish and reptiles. The term for this is a generalist predator. In the winter, they hibernate, and in the late spring, they breed. Female bullfrogs produce up to 20,000 eggs. And, males are extremely territorial. They act aggressively towards other males and only two to four can inhabit a body of water at a time (Spitzen 2010). The status of this species in Colorado is invasive because bullfrogs are a threat. They seriously impact biological diversity and human activities. They also carry an emerging fungus called Chytridiomycosis. This fungus is considered one of the main causes of amphibian decline. Because they carry this fungus, bullfrogs are considered among the most harmful invasive species. Another reason

they are a threat is their relationship to the non-native fish. The invasiveness of bullfrogs is heightened by the presence of non-native, invasive fish for example bluegill. Together the two have been connected with the declines in many amphibian species (Spitzen 2010).

Results In the pond, the phosphate level was 5 ppm, and in the Florida River, the phosphate level was 4 ppm. Both of these bodies of water have high phosphate levels. The dissolved oxygen level in the pond was 7.5 mg/L. This measure is considered normal. But, the dissolved oxygen level in the river was inconclusive. Due to heavy rainfall, the river water was full of sediment making it impossible to see the color change needed for this test. The pH level in both the pond and the Florida River was found to be between 8 and 9, which qualifies as alkaline. In the pond, the nitrate level was at one ppm, and in the Florida River, the nitrate level was at two ppm. Both showed small traces of nitrates which is normal. Nitrogen levels less than 4ppm means the water is considered to be unpolluted. When the Florida River and the pond were tested for coliform, both tested positive. Based on the data from 8 veg plot surveys, the Shannon-Weiner diversity index was calculated to be 1.3, which suggests adequate diversity. 37 people hours were used for the Leopard/Bullfrog sightings. In the two hours spent there, an average amount of frogs seen was 6.25. There were no bullfrogs seen. Based on the macroinvertebrate data, the Shannon-Weiner diversity index was calculated to be 1.02 for the pond and 1.41 for the river. Both suggest adequate diversity.

Discussion & Recommendations The more diversity in an ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is. When the ShannonWeiner index is above one, it indicates adequate diversity. The macroinvertebrates in both the river and pond, it was calculated to be above one. In the veg plots, all but one was calculated to be above one.

The diversity of macroinvertebrates and vegetation of an ecosystem is important because they are on the bottom of the energy pyramid. Because they are diverse, the rest of the ecosystem is diverse. Overall, because all of our Shannon-Weiner indexes except one were above one, it suggests adequate diversity. Stoneflies are generally sensitive to pollution, so large numbers of these organisms would indicate good water quality. Because no stoneflies were found in the river this year and past years, it indicates the water is not great. But, because of the other macroinvertebrates found in the river and pond such as midges, caddisflies, and mayflies, it indicates moderate water quality. Since high levels of phosphates were found in both the river and pond, there has to be an explanation. The high phosphates may be because of animal wastes, specifically cow wastes. Cows can be found around the Florida River. Therefore, their runoff waste goes into the river causing the high phosphates. These levels could be decreased by fencing the cows farther from the river. This should be done as soon as possible by the farmers. By decreasing the phosphate level in the river, it will most likely cause a decrease of phosphates in the pond which will overall create better water quality. This is one modification that can be made to the Durango Nature Studies pond habitat to promote the native leopard frogs. Elevated phosphate levels can lead to extreme algal growth called blooms. An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation of algae. It is not as big of an issue with high phosphate levels in the river because algal blooms will not form. But in the pond it is an issue because algal blooms do grow. An algal bloom can be prevented by aquatic plants such as anacharis, these plants will take up many of the nutrients in the pond, cutting the food supply to algae and preventing blooms from forming. This modification to the pond will create better water quality which will then create an overall better habitat. Another approach to preventing an algal bloom is attempting to cut the flow phosphates into the body of water which was previously stated.

In three years, a bullfrog has not been caught on the Durango Nature Studies property, but they have been spotted. To better monitor and more effectively capture bullfrogs, traps could be set. Both pitfall traps and funnel traps could be used in conjunction with each other. The traps could be set 24 hours before the first day of fieldwork. Then they could be checked on each day of fieldwork by the workers. A wet sponge should be kept in the pitfall traps so the frogs do not dry out. A diagram of where these traps should be placed is attached. Getting rid of bullfrogs is another modification that can be made to the Durango Nature Studies pond to promote leopard frogs populations. To monitor the native leopard frogs this year, visual encounter surveys and the mark- recapture method was used. The mark- recapture method is a beneficial method. A suggestion to better monitor the leopard frogs in the future is to use more time and make sure the people searching are spread out in the visual encounters. It is not useful to have all workers at the pond just standing there. To improve this, they could be assigned to either the pond or the river and should be moving quietly. Lastly, each set of workers could be given an hour instead of 30 minutes to monitor leopard frogs populations. Based on visual encounter surveys, the estimated population of leopard frogs is 6. Based on mark- recapture data, the estimated population is 20. This is quite a big difference. The method that is more reliable is the mark- recapture data; therefore the population that should be referenced is 20. The mark- recapture data is more reliable because it has math behind it. The number does not just come from the amount of frogs seen because certainly, not every frog on the Durango Nature Studies property was seen.

Work Cited Spitzen-van der Sluijs, A. M. & R. Zollinger, 2010. Literature review on the American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana (Shaw, 1802). Stichting RAVON, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Smith, B. E., & Keinath, D., 2004. Species Assessment for the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Wyoming.