2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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6/05/2017 | 3:30 PM - 3:45 PM | Subsidies, salt, and sex ratios: interactive effects of road salt pollution with variation in leaf litter quality on wetland consumers | 305B

Subsidies, salt, and sex ratios: interactive effects of road salt pollution with variation in leaf litter quality on wetland consumers

Human activity has led to chemical contamination of freshwater environments, as well as changes in terrestrial vegetation. We examined how variation of tree litter inputs interacts with inputs of road salt deicers, which are common contaminants in northern latitudes. We hypothesized that elevated chloride levels would reduce copepod densities, increase algal abundance, and benefit salt-tolerant consumers. Additionally, we hypothesized that these effects would be most pronounced with highly soluble leaf litter (e.g., Acer rubrum). In experimental freshwater ponds containing phytoplankton, periphyton, zooplankton, Physa acuta snails, and tadpoles (wood frogs [Lithobates sylvaticus] and American toads [Anaxyrus americanus]), we manipulated leaf litter (none, A. rubrum, or Quercus velutina) and chloride concentration (114, 220, 314, and 867 mg Cl- L-1). The highest chloride concentration reduced copepod densities and increased phytoplankton, but only in the presence of maple litter. We found no effects of salt on the survival or growth of wood frog or toads. However, we did find that oak feminizes wood frog sex ratios, and that the addition of salt with oak litter had a masculinizing effect. In addition, road salt addition enhanced sexual size dimorphisms in maple-reared tadpoles, producing larger females.

C09 Wetland Ecology
C11 Community Ecology
C13 Ecotoxicology

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Presenters/Authors

Aaron Stoler (), Stockton University, aaron.stoler@stockton.edu;