About This Project

I'm studying amphibian communities in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Amphibian species in the region rely on shallow, depressional wetlands known as playas. Changes in amphibian communities often warn of surface water pollution that could potentially have implications for human health. I hypothesize that proximity to agricultural operations will decrease wetland habitat quality, species richness, and relative abundance, as well as increase rate of abnormalities within communities.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

The purpose of this study is to improve conservation of wetland ecosystem services by using amphibians as indicators of wetland function in an agricultural region. I will investigate how proximity to agricultural operations impacts amphibian communities in the Southern High Plains (SHP) region of Texas. The SHP is home to over 30,000 shallow, depressional playa wetlands and 14 amphibian species that rely on healthy, functioning playas for breeding and aquatic habitat for tadpoles. These wetlands are located in a region with some of the highest agricultural production in the United States. An unintended byproduct of these operations can be reduced surface water quality via inputs of nutrients and contaminants which can negatively affect amphibian communities and wetland function.

What is the significance of this project?

Amphibians can function as bioindicators due to their permeable skin and complex life cycle – using both terrestrial and aquatic habitat. The aquatic tadpoles are especially useful in assessing water quality issues. Previous research has largely focused on fish, but fish do not naturally occur in the ephemeral playas which only fill after heavy rains. Functioning playas support communities of organisms requiring aquatic habitat as well as providing critical stopover sites for migratory birds. This surface water is necessary for regional game species including quail, pheasant, and deer and provides recreational opportunities for people. Poor water quality can impair ecosystem function reducing the playa’s ability to support biodiversity and human recreation.

What are the goals of the project?

The project goals are to assess current impacts of agricultural operations and provide information necessary to improve playa conservation in the SHP. Specifically, I will investigate how proximity to agricultural operations changes water chemistry and how those changes influences amphibian community composition, reproduction, and physiological health. I hypothesize that wetlands closer to agricultural operations will have reduced water quality that will negatively impact the amphibian community. I will integrate water chemistry analysis, amphibian surveys, field enclosures, and toxicology experiments to test my hypothesis. The project goals will be achieved by determining appropriate wetland buffers and contaminant concentrations that reduce unintended impacts of agriculture.