OVERVIEW

As part of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), hydrologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assist ARMI biologists and geographers with water-quality monitoring and investigate water-resources issues that may affect amphibian populations, habitats, or species diversity on Department of Interior (DOI) land. Seven hydrologic coordinators, a national coordinator, and several independent researchers devote part of their time to ARMI. Hydrologists support ARMI activities primarily at research sites, but also in amphibian monitoring areas. The national coordinator participates in ARMI program planning, management, and development.

In 2003, USGS hydrologist from the seven ARMI regions, and researchers from the National Research Program collected and/or analyzed water and sediment samples at monitoring and research sites across the Nation. The type of work done varied by region and was designed to meet the needs of the ARMI biologists. The graph below indicats the number of sites visited, samples collected, and constituents analyzed for by region for 2003.

See the ARMI water studies web site for more project information.

2003 RESULTS AND NEWS

William Battaglin, Colleen Rostad, and Bruce Moring all helped to organized the ARMI annual meeting and the associated special SETAC sessions. A full day of oral and poster sessions will highlight amphibian research with over ½ of the presentations made by USGS ARMI researchers.

Pacific Northwest Region - Chauncey Anderson

Water-quality samples were collected from 69 sites in Eastern, OR. Samples were analyzed for 6 parameters including nutrients, pH, and ANC. Chauncey trained BRD herpetological field crew leaders in water-quality sampling and NWQL sample submission. He also provided database, logistical, quality assurance, and field support for BRD's water quality sampling efforts for ARMI monitoring/research studies in SE Oregon where the focus is effects of cattle grazing on spotted frogs. Chauncey has assisted with interpretation of water quality data from FY02, including trace elements, synthetic hormones, and potential ammonia toxicity issues relative to amphibians. Chauncey has participated in several informal meetings with the BRD Field Coordinators (Wendy Wente) to provide input on field methods, refill supplies, and discuss water quality data. He also has participated in the conference calls among WRD Hydrologic Coordinators.

Southwest Region - Ken Covey

Water samples for chemical analysis were collected from 9 amphibian ponds, meadows, and marshes in 3 National Parks in the Sierras of eastern California. Samples were analyzed for major ions, nutrients, and in some cases pesticides. Amphibians were only observed at 2 of 9 sites in California. Ken also completed analyses of water-quality data collected from 6 amphibian ponds in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. Drought and high air temperatures in southern Arizona caused stress on the amphibians. Dissolved oxygen concentrations in amphibian ponds were below the lower limit for healthy aquatic life. The University of Arizona (Biology Department), the NPS, USFWS, USGS, and the Arizona wildlife division have all asked for and received copies of the data from 2002. Ken has now collected samples in 2 of the 3 target sampling areas. Sites in southern Arizona were sampled last year, and sites in the Sierras were sampled this year. The plans for next year are to collect water samples from sites in southern California. Funds permitting, amphibian sites also will be sampled in Pt Reyes National Seashore Area. Additionally, a second set of samples should be collected from the Arizona sites during a wet year.

Rocky Mountain Region - Donald Campbell

In 2003, Don Campbell prepared a journal article titled "Sensitivity to acidification of sub-alpine ponds and lakes in Northwestern Colorado" that was accepted for publication in Hydrological Processes.

Since 1999, Don's work has focused on collecting basic water quality data (major ions, nutrients, DOC, UV absorbance) at amphibian monitoring sites, and determining the role of hydrologic landscapes and flow paths in controlling physical and chemical characteristics of amphibian habitat. Monitoring of water quality is ongoing at ARMI sites in Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Glacier National Park, and the Bitterroot National Forest.

Don is collaborating with D. Pilliod and E. Muths and others on a study of effects of fire on amphibian habitats and populations in Montana and Idaho. Water quality is monitored at paired sites of undisturbed and both natural and prescribed burn areas. For these studies, BRD personnel collect and filter samples in the field, and they are analyzed at CoDist research lab or the NWQL. Don managed data and quality assurance. The CoDist research lab also analyzes samples collected by eastern region ARMI (BRD and WRD) for Gran titration of acid-neutralizing capacity (not available at NWQL).

Campbell, D.H., E. Muths, J.T. Turk, and P.S. Corn, (in press). Sensitivity to acidification of sub-alpine ponds and lakes in Northwestern Colorado, Hydrological Processes.

Lower Mississippi Region - Bruce Moring

Bruce Moring continued collaborated with USGS National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) staff in the design and implementation of a water-quality monitoring program for ARMI sites in the Achafalaya National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. The objective of the monitoring program is to collect water samples every-other year beginning in 2003 from 20 ARMI sites representing three types of amphibian habitats. Data from the samples will be reviewed and compiled early in FY04, and ultimately made available to the ARMI data base, and to U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff with the Achafalaya NWR. A USGS color fact sheet detailing findings from the Achafalaya project is planned for FY04. Bruce supervised the training of NWRC staff in the techniques and rationale for the collection of water samples for the analysis of soluble pesticides; and low-level nutrients and major and minor ions. Bruce authored the water-quality section of a proposal submitted to ARMI for FY 04 funding entitled "The Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on the Coexistence and Conservation of Desert Anurans." The project proposal was well received but not approved for funding.

Upper Mississippi Region - Perry Jones

Water samples for chemical analysis were collected from 11 sites in Minnesota. Samples were analyzed for 46 constituents including major ions, nutrients, and in some cases pesticides. Perry continues to work on studies of mercury in the environment and its potential affects on wildlife. Perry also collaborated with Walt Sadinski on a study of atrazine occurrence in amphibian habitats in the Upper Mississippi ARMI region.

Southeast Region - Brian Hughes

Brian Hughes collected water-quality samples from 16 sites in the St Marks NWR, FL and 8 new sites in Lower Suwanee NWR, FL. All samples were analyzed for 23 water quality parameters including major ions, nutrients, doc, metals and mercury. In, 2004 Brian plans to continue water sampling at selected site and will assist in the collection of amphibian tissue samples (tail segments of amphiuma) for analysis of mercury accumulation.

Northeast Region - Karen Rice

Karen Rice collected 63 water quality samples from sites in 4 regional parks. Samples were analyzed for nutrients and ANC. Working with Robin Jung, Karen sampled streams and ponds in: the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Md.; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Md., Rock Creek National Park, Washington, D.C., and Shenandoah National Park, Va. Karen is a co-author on 2 abstract for the upcoming SETAC meeting: Hydrologic investigations in support of amphibian monitoring and research by Battaglin, Anderson, Campbell, Covay, Hughes, Jones, Moring, Rice, and Rostad; and Vernal pool amphibian monitoring for the NE ARMI program by Jung, Nanjappa, Grant, and Rice. Karen is also a co-author of a journal article titled Stream salamander species richness and abundance in relation to environmental factors in Shenandoah National Park: A stratified random survey by Grant, Jung, and Rice, submitted to American Midland Naturalist. Karen is preparing a USGS publication titled Water-quality and amphibian population data collected in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, 2001-2003 by Rice and Jung, for publication in 2004.

National Research - Colleen Rostad, Don Rosenberry, Gregory McCabe, Lauren Hay

Colleen Rostad finished a study on the distribution of steroidal hormones at sites with amphibian malformations in Minnesota, with Perry Jones. An abstract, and the results, Steroidal Hormones at Sites with Amphibian Malformations, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, by Rostad and Jones, were presented at the 23^rd annual SETAC meeting, November 16-20, 2002, Salt Lake City, UT. Colleen is also receiving and analyzing a second season of samples for steroidal hormones as part of a study on the impact of cattle grazing on Columbia spotted frog, with Wendy Wente and Michael Adams. Colleen helped organized a symposium with Bill Battaglin for Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24th Annual Meeting, November 9-13, 2003, Austin, Texas, on Amphibian Research and Monitoring. Colleen submitted an abstract on impact of cattle grazing on Columbia spotted frog to 2003 SETAC meeting.

Don Rosenberry worked with a student to compile information and generate a multivariate analysis of physical and chemical factors that relate to incidence of frog malformation in Minnesota. Don submitted a paper to the journal "Wetlands" titled Physical and geochemical assessment of two Minnesota malformed frog research ponds by Rosenberry, Jones, and Megner; and is in the process of revising the manuscript following journal review.

Greg McCabe (NRP) and Lauren Hay (NRP) are collaborating with Bill Battaglin to produce climate statistics for the continental United States for the last 30 years. The statistics they are extracting from the ~10,000 first order weather stations are specifically tailored to studies of amphibian occurrence and diversity.

National Monitoring - Bill Battaglin

In 2003, Bill coordinated the efforts of 7 hydrologists, collaborated with BRD and non-BRD amphibian researchers, and participated in the ARMI program design process. Bill conducted 5 conference calls in 2003. Bill helped re-drafted the ARMI project conceptual design document. Final changed are being made by Steve Corn. Bill continued his work with the ARMI Geospatial Analysis Framework Team. This team is building a GIS tool that will assist ARMI researchers in conducting coarse-scale analysis of relationships between amphibian declines and environmental stressors. Bill has developed spatial data sets for the Nation that quantify various mean annual and annual mean climate statistics, as well as a spatial data set on pesticide use. Bill continued collaboration with Dr Tyrone Hayes, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkley. Dr Hayes's research demonstrates that atrazine can affect amphibian sexual development at environmentally relevant concentrations. In early summer 2003, Bill collected 9 samples from amphibian habitats along the N. Platte and Missouri River. Later in the summer Bill meet with Tyrone and field crew to train them in water sample collection. Tyrone additional samples at 25 sites from the headwaters of the N. Platte to the confluence of the Missouri and back up to the headwaters of the Missouri. Results of herbicide analysis in the samples will be compared with measures of sexual development in Rana Pipiens. Bill helped organized a symposium with Colleen Rostad for SETAC meeting. Bill prepared two abstract for this meeting: Hydrologic investigations in support of amphibian monitoring and research by Battaglin, Anderson, Campbell, Covay, Hughes, Jones, Moring, Rice, and Rostad; and Associations between amphibian diversity and climate in the continental United States by Battaglin, Hay, McCabe, Nanjappa, and Gallant.

PLANS FOR 2004

In 2004, Battaglin plans to:

1. Continue to coordinate the efforts of the seven regional hydrologic coordinators.
2. Continue to work with BRD, WRD, and NMD researchers to complete and publish the ARMI program conceptual design document.
3. Continue to work with ARMI geospatial analysis framework task force to develop tool for conducting research related to causes of amphibian population declines.
4. Work with Tyrone Hayes and others investigating water-quality in amphibian habitats, and the potential affect of atrazine on male frog sexual development.
5. Develop proposal for NPS-USGS partnership on glyphosate occurrence in parks (with toxics pesticides).

The regional coordinators plan to:

1. Attend the National ARMI meeting, Nov 2003, in Austin, TX. Several coordinators will make presentations at the associated SETAC meeting. Training on water sample collection will be provided to BRD staff.
2. Continue to provide hydrological support to BRD field efforts, including developing water sampling plans, training field crews, maintaining QW database, and participating in field efforts as warranted.