The Relationship of Wetland Soil Chemistry to the Appearance of the bog turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii

Kayla Kyle, Department of Biology, York College of Pennsylvania

Introduction

Methods

-Determine wetland boundaries on the 2 adjacent wetland sites.-Set-up transects along the sites.-At every sample point a 3 foot hole was dug.-Soil collection -a sample from the top and bottom-Water Table Readings-Munsell Analysis-Chemical Analysis -N-P-K test kit-Statistical Analysis

Results

Conclusions

Future Studies

References

- Wetlands can be defined by studying vegetation, soils, and hydrology. - Wetlands are important habitats to many unique species; this includes Clemmys muhlenbergii, the bog turtle.- Bog turtles have been on the decline throughout their historic range, which is from southern New England to Georgia. - As habitat specialists, anything causing change in the wetland can have a harmful affect on the bog turtles’ survival.

Research Question

-Can a difference in soil nutrients (N-P-K) between 2 adjacent wetlands suggest why bog turtles appear on one site and not the other?

Schematic of Site

-Different analysis technique needed to support/reject results.-Significant vegetative differences may be present.

Munsell Soil Color Charts by Munsell Color. 2000. Macbeth Division of Kollmorgen Corporation, New Windsor, NY.

Table 1. Water table measurements in wetland 1.    

  A1 B C D E      1a -9.5 -8 -10.25 -12.25 -13.52 2 -0.25 1.5 -0.25 -14.53 2.5 -1 2.25 2.5 -144 -1.25 2 -5.5 1.25 -8.255 -1.5 -3.5 -4 2 ----6 -2 ---- -5.25 -4.25 ----7 ---- ---- -10 -8.25 ----      

a1-7: Hole numbers

1A-E: Transect lines

*Positive value is inches of water above surface.*Negative value is inches below surface to get to water.

Table 2. Water table measurements in wetland 2.  A1 B C D E F1a -18.25 -12.5 -11 -8.5 -5 -112 -16 1.5 -2 -2 -1.5 0.253 -5 1 3.5 3 1.5 0.54 1.25 4 4 0.5 2 -25 1 1.5 2 2 -2 -26 2.5 2 2.5 -8.5 1.5 -107 -5 1 1 ---- 1 -108 ---- ---- -10 ---- -10 ----

a1-8: Hole numbers

1A-F: Transect lines

*Positive value is inches of water above surface.*Negative value is inches below surface to get to water.

Table 4. Wetland 2 Munsell readings at 1' below ground.  

  A1 B C D E F1a 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/4 10 YR3/4 10 YR 3/42 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/33 10 YR 3/2 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/34 10 YR 3/2 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/45 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 4/46 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/2 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 4/4 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 4/47 10 YR 3/6 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 4/3 --- 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 4/48 --- --- 10 YR 3/6 --- 10 YR 4/4 ---

a1-8: Hole numbers

1A-F: Transect lines

-Nutrient levels in the soil cannot suggest a significant difference between the wetlands to account for the appearance or lack of appearance of the bog turtle.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr. Smith and Bob Bull for their help throughout this project.

A B C D E F

0

20

40

60

80NitrogenPhosphorus

Figure 2. Mean nutrient levels of soil for each transect line inwetland 2. Data are means and standard error based on sixreplicates for each group.

Potassium

Transect Lines

Nu

trie

nt

leve

l (lb

A/6

" so

il)

Mann-Whitney testNitrogen- p-value= 0.4176- not significantPotassium- p-value= 0.7513- not significantPhosphorus- p-value= 0.0645- not quite significant

Tiner, R.W., Jr. 1988. Field Guide to Nontidal Wetland Identification. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Newton Corner, MA. Cooperative publication. 283 pp. + plates.

A B C D E

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nitrogen

PotassiumPhosphorus

Figure 1. Mean nutrient levels of soil for each transect line inwetland 1. Data are means and standard error based on fivereplicates for each group.

Transect Lines

Nu

trie

nt

leve

l (lb

A/6

" so

il)

Table 3. Wetland 1 Munsell readings at 1' below ground.

  A1 B C D E1a 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 4/42 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/2 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 4/63 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 2/2 7.5 YR 2.5/1 10 YR 4/44 10 YR 3/4 7.5 YR3/2 10 YR 2/2 7.5 YR 2.5/1 10 YR 3/65 10 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 2/2 7.5 YR 2.5/1 ---6 10 YR 2/2 --- 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/3 ---7 --- --- 10 YR 3/4 10 YR 3/4 ---

a1-7: Hole numbers

1A-E: Transect lines