Their findings highlight the importance of preserving these ecosystems, particularly in the face of climate change and more variable precipitation patterns.

During dry years, connectivity across wetlands decreased and breeding pools for the endangered species shrank then, sporadic wet years created ephemeral wetlands, allowing movement across the meta-population and increasing population viability. They found ephemeral wetlands to be critical for amphibian movement between wetlands during wet years. Credit: Daiju Azuma.Ī new study looked at one endangered species, the western tiger salamander ( Ambystoma mavortium), and modeled the role of ephemeral wetlands for their movement and persistence during wet, dry, and typical years. The endangered western tiger salamander ( Ambystoma mavortium). In other words, ephemeral wetlands can serve as “stepping stones” for amphibians and other animals as they move between habitats.

Ephemeral wetlands may play an important role for meta-populations by temporarily increasing connectivity between wetland and upland terrestrial habitats. This management strategy recognizes wetlands and ephemeral wetlands as a network, and acknowledges the meta-population dynamics where both patches, and connections between patches, are important for species in an area. In addition to preserving individual wetlands, it is also vital to preserve a network of wetlands and uplands that allows species to move between patches. To protect amphibians and other wetland wildlife and help them deal with challenges like disturbance and climate change, management should recognize wetlands and surrounding upland habitats as “patches” to be preserved. Climate change also threatens wetlands by changing precipitation patterns. Roads and buildings create barriers and hazards to migration for wildlife, and potentially change the hydrology of the surrounding area. These sensitive habitats are threatened by human disturbance. Ephemeral wetland swamp in British Columbia.