Drought and Aquatic Wildlife

By J.D. Kleopfer/DWR

Photos by J.D. Kleopfer/DWR

The historic drought that has plagued the southeastern United States this spring is not only impacting Virginia’s farming community, but it is also impacting wildlife. Amphibians and many species of reptile occupy or periodically use a wide variety of aquatic habitats for breeding or as permanent homes.

These habitats range from isolated, seasonally flooded wetlands to more permanent bodies of water such as lakes and reservoirs. As these sites begin to dry and their water levels draw down, the animals in them become more exposed to avian and mammalian predators or are forced to disperse to try and find other aquatic habitats. Some amphibians may also abandon any effort to reproduce that year. During these periods of drought, amphibians and reptiles may seek refuge in the surrounding forest or burrow deep into the mud to wait for the rains to return.

However, the occasional drought can have some positive impacts and can be critical to their survival. Chicken turtles, barking treefrogs, and tiger salamanders are among the many reptiles and amphibians that require fish-free habitats for reproduction and survival. Periodic drying of their habitats, such as sinkholes, Carolina bays, and other seasonally flooded wetlands, keep fish from becoming established. The Cat Ponds sinkhole complex in Isle of Wight County is one such location. In a typical spring, this site may hold 3-5 feet of water.

This “boom and bust” life cycle is perfectly normal and shouldn’t be a threat to their long-term survival if the “busts” are few and far between. However, if the “bust” years become more frequent due to changes in climate patterns, these species may not have the ability to recover, which will eventually lead to localized extirpations.