Lance Lab

 Global Change Impacts on Isolated Wetlands and Pond Breeding Amphibians

wetland restoration

Many amphibians in the Southeastern United States rely on open canopied ephemeral wetlands that have an abundant herbaceous component. This open grassy state is vital for amphibian survival and growth and was historically maintained through regular fire disturbance ignited by dry summer thunderstorms. These fires kill encroaching woody plants and promote herbaceous growth. However, from nearly a century of anthropogenic fire suppression, many of these wetlands have shifted to a canopy closed state that suppresses herbaceous growth, consumes large amounts of water therefore making the wetlands drier, and decreases the flammability of these systems. To improve amphibian breeding habitat, our lab studies the efficacy of wetland restoration techniques by testing various canopy and leaf litter treatments. We analyze the effects of these treatments by measuring responses of the vegetative and amphibian community as well as changes in water chemistry over time. Through this work, we hope to better understand restoration trajectories using common and novel techniques that will inform conservation practices for these important wetland communities.

gopher frog habitat restoration plan for the SRS!

We have been working with the Savannah River Site Forest Service (SRS-FS) to develop a site-wide habitat restoration plan and in 2024 it was approved by all stakeholders! The plan outlines a path forward for restoring the uplands and wetlands across the eastern portion of the SRS — where we have extant gopher frog breeding wetlands. This will be a huge undertaking but will include over 3,000 acres and >15 wetlands. Around each wetland we will restore the ecotone and uplands up to 500m from the wetland edge. This is a great example of how working together across stakeholders can yield an exciting outcome for all parties involved. Right now the SRS-FS and Lance Lab are working together to collect baseline data on the wetlands, vegetative cover of uplands, amphibian communities, and water chemistry/quality to ensure that future scientists can repeat these studies and evaluate the efficacy of the restoration efforts. Though the gopher frog is the central figure, their reliance on open-herbaceous wetlands and open-pine uplands means that restoration should benefit numerous at-risk amphibians, reptiles, plants, birds, and mammals that rely on the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem.