Aquatic invertebrate surveys of two ponds in Greenwoods Conservancy, one on and the other off the Volney-Marcy South Right of Way

Bekka S. Brodie1

INTRODUCTION

Greenwoods Conservancy, in Burlington, NY, is a 1000 acre preserve that is

protected by a conservation easement through the Otsego Land Trust. The Marcy South transmission line, or Right of Way (ROW), was constructed in the mid-1980s and runs 200 miles across central New York. The New York State Power Authority (PASNY) uses Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM), which includes clear-cutting and herbicides, to reduce interference and allow access for maintenance (Fickbohm, 2001.) PASNY avoids any disturbance of woody plants that will not grow high enough to interfere with the ROW. From conservation perspective, the ROW produces many different effects, including an ecotone created by the boundary between the ROW and the adjacent forest, serving as a potential new habitat for increased biodiversity of both flora and fauna.

The Biological Field Station has been involved in monitoring plant succession

along the ROW (Austin, 2000, Fickbohm, 2001), has evaluated the effect of slope and aspect on that succession (Adams, 2000), surveyed the vascular plant richness in a wetland within and adjacent to the ROW (Groff, 2000) and has surveyed vertebrates along the ROW corridor (Phillips, 2000). Additional inventories of arthropods along the ROW in 1999 (Scott, 2000) and in 2000 (Brodie, 2001) indicate that despite the differences in the characteristics of the plant communities, the two sites were quite similar in diversity and richness at the family level.

The purpose of this research is to survey species richness of the aquatic

invertebrate community in Woods Hole, a wetland crossed by the ROW, and in Broad Meadow Pond, a wetland off the ROW. From the information that this research provides one can attempt to gain insight into how maintenance practices affect this community.

METHODS Aquatic arthropods were sampled on 19 June and 19 July 2001 using a surface

trap, triangle net, and surface dipper. Qualitative samples were collected from the perimeters of the two ponds along the ROW, Broad Meadow Pond and Woods Hole Pond (Figure 1). Samples were taken along six sites around the perimeter each.

The arthropods were then brought back to the BFS where they were killed and preserved in 70% ethanol. Identification was at least to family, generally, following

1 New York State Power Authority Intern. Present affiliation: SUNY Oneonta Biology Dapartment.

Peckarsky (1990) and Merrit and Cummins (1996.) All specimens are curated at the BFS for future reference.

Figure 1. Greenwoods Conservancy showing Broad Meadow Pond and Woods Hole, arthropod sampling sites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Tables 1 and 2 provide a summary of the arthropods collected, including a taxonomic overview and quantity collected at each location. Despite the obvious differences in the characteristics of the plant communities, the two sites were quite similar in diversity and richness at the family level. Differences at the genus level were slight and without apparent consistency among sampling sites.

REFERENCES Adams, H. 2000. The effect of aspect on the forest edge along a power line corridor at

Greendoods Conservancy, summer 1999. In 32nd Annual Report (1999). SUNY Oneonta Bio. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Austin, T. 2000. Establishment of vegetation transects at the right of way of Marcy South

at Greenwoods Conservancy, summer 1999. In 32nd Annual Report (1999). SUNY Oneonta Bio. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Borror, D.J., C.A. Triplehorn and N.F. Johnson. 1989. Insects, 6th Edition. Saunders

College Publishing. Ft. Wrth, Texas. Fickbohm, S. 2001. Monitoring vegetative succession by percent cover and species

diversity on established transects across the Volney-Marcy South right of way through Greenwoods Conservancy, summer 2000. In 32nd Annual Report (1999). SUNY Oneonta Bio. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Groff, S. 2000. Vascular plant richness in an electric power right-of-way wetland at

Greenwoods Conservancy, summer 1999. In 32nd Annual Report (1999). SUNY Oneonta Bio. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Merrit Richard W. and Senneth W. Cummins. 1996. An Introduction to the Aquatic

Insects of North America, 3erd Edition. Kedall/ Hunt Publishing Co. Peckarsky, Barbara L. et. al. 1990. Fresh water Macroinvertebrates of North America.

Comstock Publishing Ass. Cornell University Press. Phillips, R.R. 2000. Vertebrate survey of the Marcy South power corridor, Greenwoods

Conservancy, summer 1999. In 32nd Annual Report (1999). SUNY Oneonta Bio. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Scott, C. 2000. An arthropod survey of a transmission line right of way at Greenwoods

Conservancy, summer 1999. In 32nd Annual Report (1999). SUNY Oneonta Bio. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

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Table I. Aquatic invertebrates collected at Broad Meadow Pond (off ROW), summer 2001. Broad Meadow Site 1

6/19/2001

7/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Hirudinea Empobdellidae 2 Gastropoda Planorbidae He/isoma anceps 3 Odonata Aeshnidae Aeshna 3 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae Notonecta 1 Hemiptera Corixidae Trichorixa 1

Hemiptera Gerridae Trepobates 1 Hemiptera Corixidae Pa/macorixa 'I Coleoptera Halipiidae Haliplus 1 Coleoptera Dyticidae Hydroporus 5 Coleoptera Dyticidae Oesmopachria 1 Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Berosus 1 Diptera Culicidae Caenis 1 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Oecetis 2 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Oecetis cinerascens 1 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Tria enodes 'I

Broad Meadow Site 2 6/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Planorbidae He/isoma anceps 1 Amphipoda Talitrida Hylalella 5 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 2 Hemiptera Notonectidae 1 Hemiptera Corixidae 3 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Triaenodes 1 Lepidoptera unknown 1

7/19/2001 Ephemeroptera Empobdellidae 1 Ephemeroptera Tricorythidae Tricorythodes 5 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae 2 Hemiptera Corixidae Palmacorixa 1 Coleoptera Haliplidae Hafiplus 1 Coleoptera Noteridae Hydrocanthus 3 Coleoptera Noteridae Hydrocanthus 1

Broad Meadow Site 3 6/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Planorbidae Hefisoma anceps 1 Coleoptera Dyticidae Agabetes 1 Odonata Lestidae Archilestes 1 Odonata Aeshnidae Aeshna 1 Odonata Libellulidae 1 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 2 Coleoptera Dyticidae Hydroporus 1 Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Donacia 1

263

Table 1 (cant) Aquatic invertebrates collected at Broad Meadow Pond (off ROW), summer 200 I. 7/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Planorbidae Helisoma anceps 5 Odonata Lestidae Lestes 1 Odonata Aeshnidae Aeshna 1 Hemiptera Gerridae Trepobates 2 Hemiptera Belastomatidae Be/astoma 2 Hemiptera Nepidae Ranatra 1 Hemiptera Corixidae Pa/macorixa 2 Diptera Chironomidae 2 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Oecetis cinerascens 1

Broad Meadow Site 6 6/19/2001

7/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 'I Hemiptera Notonectidae Notonecta 1 Hemiptera Corixidae Pa/macorixa 1 Hemiptera Corixidae 1 Coleoptera Haliplidae Ha/iplus 1 Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Hydrochus 1 Diptera Culicidae 1

Mollusca Planorbidae He/isoma anceps 3 Odonata Lestidae Archilestes 1 Odonata Libellu !ida e Sympetrum 2 Diptera Chironomidae 1

Table 2. Aquatic invertebrates collected at Woods Hole (on ROW), summer 2001. Woods Hole Site 1

6/19/2001 Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Planorbidae Helisoma anceps 1 Mollusca Planorbidae Helisoma anceps 3 Isopod a Asellidae Caecidotea 1 Ephemeroptera Tricorythidae Trichoridotes 1 Odonata (exoskeleton) 1 Hemiptera Corixidae 3 Hemiptera Corixidae Trichorixa 1 Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Hydrochara 1 Diptera Chironomidae 3

7/19/2001 Mollusca Planorbidae HeJisoma anceps 2 Odonata Gomphidae Gomphus 1 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 6 Hemiptera Notonectidae *** 3 Coleoptera Haliplidae Haliplus 3 Coleoptera Gyrinidae Gyrinus 1 Diptera Chironomidae 1 Trichoptera Leptoceridae Oecetis cinerascens 2

264

Table 2 (cant.) Aquatic invertebrates collected at Woods Hole (on ROW), summer 2001. Woods Hole Site 2

6/19/2001

7/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Hirudinea Amphipoda Talitridae 1 Odonata Coenagronidae Coenagron 2 Hemiptera Gerridae 3 Hemiptera Noton ectid ae Notonecta 1 Megaloptera Sialidae Sia/is 1 Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Hydrochara 1 Coleoptera Scirtidae Cyphon 1

Ephe meroptera Tricorythidae 1 Odonata Coenagrionidae Coenagron 2 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 1 Hemiptera Gerridae Trepobates 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae Notonecta 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae 2 Hemiptera Corixidae Corixidae 1

Woods Hole Site 3 6/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Lymnaeidae Lymnaea collumella 1 Coleoptera Haliplidae Halip/us 1

7119/2001 Amphipoda Talitridae Hya/ella 1 Odonata Lestidae Archi/estes 2 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 3 Odonata Coenagrionidae Coenagrion 2 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 2 Hemiptera Gerridae Trepobates 3 Hemiptera Notonectidae 1 Coleoptera Gyrinidae Gyrinus 2 Diptera Chironomidae 4

Woods Hole Site 4 6/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Isopod a Asellidae Caeci/otea 1 Odonata Coenagrionidae Coenagron 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae Notonecta 1 Hemiptera Corixidae 2 Coleoptera Haliplidae Pe/todytes 1

7119/2001 Mollusca Planorbidae He/isoma anceps 1 Amphipoda Talitridae Hya/ella 1 Ephemeroptera Caenidae Caenis 3 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 2 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 4 Coleoptera Gyrinidae Dineutus 3 Diptera Chironomidae 4

265

Table 2 (cant) Aquatic invertebrates collected at Woods Hole (on ROW), summer 200]. Woods Hole Site 5

6/19/2001

7/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Sphaeriidae Sphaerium 1 Odonata Libellulidae Ubelluia 2 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 'I Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 4 Coleoptera Dytiscidae Uvarus 1

Ephemeroptera Baetidae Callibaetis 1 Ephemeroptera Caenidae Caenis 1 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 3 Hemiptera Belastomatidae Belastoma 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae 1 Hemiptera Notonectidae Notonecta 1 Hemiptera Corixidae Palmcorixa 1 Hemiptera Corixidae 2 Diptera Chironomidae 1

Woods Hole Site 6 6/19/2001

Order Family Genus Species Qty Mollusca Planorbidae Helisoma anceps 3 Odonata Aeshnidae Aeshna 1 Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum 1 Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris 1 Diptera Chironomidae 1

7/19/2001 Ephemeroptera Caenidae Caenis 1 Odonata Aeshnidae Aeshna 1 Odonata Libellu lidae Sympetrum 4 Hemiptera Belastomatidae Belastoma 2 Hemiptera Notonectidae 3 Coleoptera Gyrinidae Dineutus 1 Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Hydrophi/us 1