Influences of agricultural land use on Clinostomum attenuatum Metacercariae prevalence in Southern Great Plains amphibians, USA
Dates
Publication Date
2007
Citation
2007, Influences of agricultural land use on Clinostomum attenuatum Metacercariae prevalence in Southern Great Plains amphibians, USA: .
Summary
Agricultural land use surrounding wetlands can influence various aspects of amphibian ecology. Amphibians inthe Southern Great Plains of North America exhibit altered demographics and body size in playa wetlands with cultivatedwatersheds compared to those in grassland watersheds. We identified metacercariae of the trematode Clinostomumattenuatum in dominant playa amphibians and therefore examined its prevalence between postmetamorphic individualsinhabiting wetlands in grassland and cultivated landscapes. During 1999 and 2000, 5,621 Bufo cognatus, 9,565 Ambystomatigrinum mavortium, and 49,373 Spea multiplicata captured at playa wetlands were examined for C. attenuatum metacercariae.In general, metacercariae prevalence in amphibians [...]
Summary
Agricultural land use surrounding wetlands can influence various aspects of amphibian ecology. Amphibians inthe Southern Great Plains of North America exhibit altered demographics and body size in playa wetlands with cultivatedwatersheds compared to those in grassland watersheds. We identified metacercariae of the trematode Clinostomumattenuatum in dominant playa amphibians and therefore examined its prevalence between postmetamorphic individualsinhabiting wetlands in grassland and cultivated landscapes. During 1999 and 2000, 5,621 Bufo cognatus, 9,565 Ambystomatigrinum mavortium, and 49,373 Spea multiplicata captured at playa wetlands were examined for C. attenuatum metacercariae.In general, metacercariae prevalence in amphibians was 2-11 times greater in grassland than in cropland wetlands.Metacercariae prevalence also was 2-13 times greater in 1999 than 2000. Land-use differences may be related to shortenedhydroperiods in disturbed cropland wetlands, which may interrupt the life cycle of C. attenuatum. Yearly differences also maybe related to hydroperiod; annual rainfall was two times greater in 1999 than 2000. Our results suggest that agricultural landuse may influence metacercariae prevalence in amphibians on the Southern Great Plains, possibly through indirect effects onwetland hydroperiod.
