Experimental confirmation of effects of leaf litter type and light on tadpole performance for two priority amphibians

Isolated wetlands embedded within longleaf pine savannas support a high proportion of regional biodiversity including many amphibian species. Today, remnant isolated are often overgrown and hydrologically altered due to fire exclusion or incompatible, cool season regimes. In the absence warm fires when dry, shrubs trees succeed herbaceous plants, which alters wetland productivity via effects on light detritus quality. We used factorial aquatic mesocosm study test shade growth, development, survival tadpoles two priority species: gopher frogs (Rana capito) ornate chorus (Pseudacris ornata). Gopher frog was higher among maidencane, sedge, treatments compared oak sweetgum treatments. While larval periods were lowest in sedge treatment, there nominal general effect litter type periods, growth rates, mass at metamorphosis. Shading had inconsistent but did extend all treatments, decreased except oak, metamorphosis sweetgum. Ornate minimally affected by shading rates highest maidencane extended with also litters litters. Our results demonstrate that succession can reduce tadpole performance for species both through changes leaf shading, though survival, period, size differ between These management recommendations restore maintain open canopy, grassy conditions conservation