Mohonk Preserve amphibian and water quality monitoring dataset at 11 vernal pools from 1932-present

Abstract

The Mohonk Preserve’s Daniel Smiley Research Center has been monitoring species occupancy, reproductive success, and water quality of 11 vernal pools (Ski Loop, Bonticou, Terrace, Long Woodland Pool, Long Woodland Swamp, Oakwood, Sleepy Hollow, Hermits, North Mud Pond, Canaan, and Talus) on the Preserve each spring from April 1931 to May 2019 (present). This project aims to document changes in the reproductive behavior and phenology of amphibians and allow research access to historical, longitudinal records. The dataset is a paired record of amphibian occurence with environmental indicators spanning nearly 90 years of data collection. The dataset includes environmental conditions for the 730 sampling events associated with the species occurences with complete coverage air temperature and precipitation records and partial coverage for a variety of other weather and water quality measures. Species occurence data collection has included species identification and counts of live and dead adults, mated pairs, spermatophores, egg masses, juveniles, and tadpoles counts as well as a record of the level of frog calling. Weather conditions including precipitation, sky and wind codes; and water quality measurements including water temperature, pH, and depth. Collection of data was sporadic from 1931 - 1991 but has been collected consistently from 1991 to present. We also began monitoring dissolved oxygen, nitrate concentrations, and conductivity of the vernal pools using a YSI Sonde Professional Plus Instrument and turbidity using a turbidity tube in February 2018. The data collection is ongoing, as are digitization efforts, and the data package will receive periodic updates.