In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), changes in the drying cycles of wetlands have been documented. Wetlands are areas where the water table is at or near the land surface and standing shallow water is present for much or all of the growing season. We discuss how monitoring data can be used to document variation in annual flooding and drying patterns of wetlands monitored across Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, investigate how these patterns are related to a changing climate, and explore how drying of wetlands may impact amphibians. The documented declines of some amphibian species are of growing concern to scientists and land managers alike, in part because disappearances have occurred in some of the most protected places. These disappearances are a recognized component of what is being described as Earth’s sixth mass extinction.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2015 |
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Title | Monitoring Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem wetlands: Can long-term monitoring help us understand their future? |
Authors | Andrew M. Ray, Adam J. Sepulveda, Blake R. Hossack, Debra Patla, David Thoma, Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, Andrea R. Litt |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Yellowstone Science |
Index ID | 70186235 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center |
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