BE-68 Who Visits a Drying Wetland?

Who Visits A Drying Wetland? The original aim of this study was to conduct a presence/absence species survey of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) by employing several active and passive survey methods. The study took place from June-December 2024 at Hobcaw Barony in Georgetown, South Carolina and made use of different ecosystems on the site. These sites included a burned and unburned longleaf pine area, a sandhills habitat, and both ephemeral and permanent wetlands. Ephemeral wetlands are temporary bodies of water that often dry up for part of the year. A modified camera trap drift fence was constructed and placed in one of the wetlands as a passive method with the goal of targeting aquatic herps. This method was employed in September, and the water level of the wetland began to decline shortly after. By December the wetland was completely gone, resulting in our game cameras capturing several non-herpetofauna species visiting the area as the water decreased. These visitors included fox squirrels, raccoons, opossums, deer, wild hogs, bobcats, and very notably, a bald eagle. Some species were captured on the cameras several times, while others were seen less often. Since our original study was on herpetofauna, we were very intrigued that so many potential herp predators would visit the wetland as it was drying. This eye opening scenario indicates that herps have more than just loss of water to contend with during the disappearance of the wetland and definitely warrants further study.