Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance
ABSTRACT Understanding how agricultural and land management practices affect amphibian biodiversity is essential for conservation efforts in farmland. We investigated the impact of farm dam enhancement on tadpole abundance and growth in a highly modified farming landscape in south‐eastern Australia....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70803 |
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| author | Michelle Littlefair Ben C. Scheele David Lindenmayer Maldwyn J. Evans |
| author_facet | Michelle Littlefair Ben C. Scheele David Lindenmayer Maldwyn J. Evans |
| author_sort | Michelle Littlefair |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Understanding how agricultural and land management practices affect amphibian biodiversity is essential for conservation efforts in farmland. We investigated the impact of farm dam enhancement on tadpole abundance and growth in a highly modified farming landscape in south‐eastern Australia. We completed detailed surveys on 52 farm dams (artificial ponds or agricultural reservoirs). These dams were categorized into two groups: enhanced (n = 28), which had undergone management activities such as fencing to prevent livestock access and facilitate revegetation, and control (n = 24), which had not received any intervention and were subject to standard management practices similar to adjacent paddocks. Our findings revealed a notable increase in tadpole abundance across all species in enhanced dams, with 92% of all observed tadpoles recorded in these dams. Factors such as higher dissolved oxygen and greater riparian vegetation cover were positively associated with tadpole abundance, while high pH levels showed a negative association. We found no evidence that tadpole growth was influenced by dam enhancement. Concerningly, when the invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki was present, tadpoles were smaller and at earlier developmental stages. Our findings highlight the potential benefits of strategic farm dam management for improving tadpole presence in agricultural landscapes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c97b29492f01451797430426fd79c1e8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-c97b29492f01451797430426fd79c1e82025-01-29T05:08:42ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-01-01151n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70803Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole AbundanceMichelle Littlefair0Ben C. Scheele1David Lindenmayer2Maldwyn J. Evans3Sustainable Farms, Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Acton Australian Capital Territory AustraliaSustainable Farms, Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Acton Australian Capital Territory AustraliaSustainable Farms, Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Acton Australian Capital Territory AustraliaSustainable Farms, Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Acton Australian Capital Territory AustraliaABSTRACT Understanding how agricultural and land management practices affect amphibian biodiversity is essential for conservation efforts in farmland. We investigated the impact of farm dam enhancement on tadpole abundance and growth in a highly modified farming landscape in south‐eastern Australia. We completed detailed surveys on 52 farm dams (artificial ponds or agricultural reservoirs). These dams were categorized into two groups: enhanced (n = 28), which had undergone management activities such as fencing to prevent livestock access and facilitate revegetation, and control (n = 24), which had not received any intervention and were subject to standard management practices similar to adjacent paddocks. Our findings revealed a notable increase in tadpole abundance across all species in enhanced dams, with 92% of all observed tadpoles recorded in these dams. Factors such as higher dissolved oxygen and greater riparian vegetation cover were positively associated with tadpole abundance, while high pH levels showed a negative association. We found no evidence that tadpole growth was influenced by dam enhancement. Concerningly, when the invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki was present, tadpoles were smaller and at earlier developmental stages. Our findings highlight the potential benefits of strategic farm dam management for improving tadpole presence in agricultural landscapes.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70803agricultureamphibiansinterventionlandscapemanagement |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Littlefair Ben C. Scheele David Lindenmayer Maldwyn J. Evans Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance Ecology and Evolution agriculture amphibians intervention landscape management |
| title | Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance |
| title_full | Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance |
| title_short | Enhancing Farm Dams Increases Tadpole Abundance |
| title_sort | enhancing farm dams increases tadpole abundance |
| topic | agriculture amphibians intervention landscape management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70803 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michellelittlefair enhancingfarmdamsincreasestadpoleabundance AT bencscheele enhancingfarmdamsincreasestadpoleabundance AT davidlindenmayer enhancingfarmdamsincreasestadpoleabundance AT maldwynjevans enhancingfarmdamsincreasestadpoleabundance |