Effects of pond permanence on avian behaviors
Abstract
As global temperatures rise due to climate change, aquatic ecosystems, such as alpine ponds, become more at risk of drying earlier than normal. These changes in pond hydrology have the potential to alter not only the aquatic ecosystems, but also terrestrial and riparian ecosystems, through resource subsidies provided by the ponds. Vernal ponds (temporary ponds) are particularly vulnerable to these changes due to their size, therefore making the surrounding terrestrial ecosystems susceptible as well. Through observing avian behaviors around both permanent and temporary ponds, our study strived to gain insight on how terrestrial predators react to the change of aquatic hydrology. Our preliminary results indicate that avian predators spend more total time near semi-permanent ponds, but further inclusion of habitat variables, such as pond size, may change these results. Understanding the causes and effects of climate altered hydrology are important in building conservation strategies for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as global warming persists and grows in influence.
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