Mine-drainage treatment wetland as habitat for herptofaunal wildlife

Journal Article · · Environmental Management; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394127· OSTI ID:7121347

Lacki, M J ^[1]; Hummer, J W; Webster, H J ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
2. Pennsylvania State Univ., DuBois, PA (United States)

Land reclamation techniques that incorporate habitat features for herptofaunal wildlife have received little attention. We assessed the suitability of a wetland, constructed for the treatment of mine-water drainage, for supporting herptofaunal wildlife from 1988 through 1990 using diurnal and nocturnal surveys. Natural wetlands within the surrounding watershed were also monitored for comparison. The treatment wetland supported the greatest abundance and species richness of herptofauna among the sites surveyed. Abundance was a function of the frog density, particularly green frogs (rana clamitans) and pickerel frogs (R. palustris), while species richness was due to the number of snake species found. The rich mix of snake species present at the treatment wetland was believed due to a combination of an abundant frog prey base and an amply supply of den sites in rock debris left behind from earlier surface-mining activities. Nocturnal surveys of breeding male frogs demonstrated highest breeding activity at the treatment wetland, particularly for spring peepers (Hyla crucifer). Whole-body assays of green frog and bullfrog (R. catesbeiana) tissues showed no differences among sites in uptake of iron, aluminum, and zinc; manganese levels in samples from the treatment wetland were significantly lower than those from natural wetlands. These results suggest that wetlands established for water quality improvement can provide habitat for reptiles and amplibians, with the species composition dependent on the construction design, the proximity to source populations, and the degree of acidity and heavy-metal concentrations in drainage waters. 35 refs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7121347
• Journal Information: Environmental Management; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Management; (United States) Vol. 16:4; ISSN EMNGDC; ISSN 0364-152X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
AMPHIBIANS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
COAL MINES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HABITAT
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
REPTILES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
VERTEBRATES
WATER QUALITY
WATER TREATMENT
WETLANDS