IMPACTS OF ROAD DEICING SALT ON THE DEMOGRAPHY OF VERNAL POOL-BREEDING AMPHIBIANS

• DOI: 10.1890/07-1644.1
• Publication Date: 2008-04-24T12:01:54Z
• Authors: Nancy E. Karraker; James P. Gibbs; James R. Vonesh
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Time Factors; Ranidae; Reproduction; Ice; Metamorphosis, Biological; Water; Transportation; Sodium Chloride; 15. Life on land; Ambystoma; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 13. Climate action; Larva; Water Pollution, Chemical; Animals; Water Pollutants, Chemical

Deicing agents, primarily road salt, are applied to roads in 26 states the United States and a number of European countries, yet scale impacts salt on aquatic organisms remains largely under-studied. The issue is germane amphibian conservation because both adult larval amphibians known be particularly sensitive changes their osmolar environments. In this study, we combined survey, experimental, demographic modeling approaches evaluate possible effects two common vernal-pond-breeding species, spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) wood frog (Rana sylvatica). We found that Adirondack Mountain Region New York (USA), traveled up 172 m from highway into wetlands. Surveys showed egg mass densities salamanders (A. frogs (R. sylvatica) were times higher forest pools than roadside pools, but pattern was better explained by proximity increased salinity. Experiments demonstrated embryonic survival reduced at moderate (500 μS) high conductivities (3000 A. maculatum R. sylvatica. Demographic models suggest such stage may have important populations near roads, case maculatum, for which exposure lead local extinction. For effect dependent upon strength density dependence declined rapidly with distance roadside, greatest negative being limited within 50 m. Based evidence, argue efforts protect sylvatica wetlands should, part, aimed reducing application conductivity levels.