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The missing wetlands: using local ecological knowledge to find cryptic ecosystems

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Abstract

Small, temporally dynamic, biologically diverse isolated wetlands are among the most imperiled ecosystems, yet their conservation is hindered by lack of protective legislation and mapping. As part of an effort to better understand isolated wetland ecology in an area undergoing dramatic land use change, we mapped isolated wetlands in South Carolina’s Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions using remote sensing and local ecological knowledge (LEK). Remote detection of isolated wetlands was limited by digital resource resolution, topography, and wetland size. LEK was the most useful tool for locating small isolated wetlands. We sampled 10% of the study area using LEK and discovered 44 wetlands with “isolated” characteristics, none of which had been identified by remote sensing. Only 8 of 44 wetlands found through LEK could be identified using remote sensing after their discovery. LEK fills a gap in cryptic ecosystem detection when adequate remotely sensed data are not available. Though effective, using LEK is neither as rapid nor as repeatable as remote sensing. We suggest a two-pronged approach for finding cryptic ecosystems: remote sensing coupled with LEK where data resolution is inadequate. For remote detection of isolated wetlands, we suggest a minimum resolution of 0.33 m for Color Infrared, leaf-off, high-water photography. Despite great advances in remote sensing, data are not uniformly available worldwide and LEK may serve as an effective tool for locating cryptic resources for biodiversity conservation. Mapping cryptic resources will allow for more accurate resource and biodiversity conservation planning under current and future climate scenarios.

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Abbreviations

CIR:

Color infrared

DEM:

Digital elevation model

DOQ:

Digital orthophoto quadrangles

DOQQ:

Digital orthophoto quarter quadrangles

GIS:

Geographic information system

GPS:

Global positioning system

HUC:

Hydrologic unit code

LEK:

Local ecological knowledge

LiDAR:

Light Detection and Ranging

NAPP:

National Aerial Photography Program

NWI:

National wetlands inventory

SC DNR:

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

SSURGO:

Soil Survey Geographic

USGS:

United States Geological Survey

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Acknowledgments

We extend our gratitude to the many individuals from the South Carolina State Parks, Upstate Forever, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. National Forest Service, as well as John Garten, for assistance in locating wetlands. We thank the numerous Clemson undergraduate and graduate students who participated in the field work for this project. Funding for this project was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 WPDG. Comments from two anonymous reviewers resulted in a greatly improved manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, 259 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Amber L. Pitt, Robert F. Baldwin, Donald J. Lipscomb, Bryan L. Brown, Joanna E. Hawley, Cora M. Allard-Keese & Paul B. Leonard

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  1. Amber L. Pitt
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  2. Robert F. Baldwin
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  3. Donald J. Lipscomb
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  4. Bryan L. Brown
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  5. Joanna E. Hawley
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  6. Cora M. Allard-Keese
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  7. Paul B. Leonard
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Correspondence to Amber L. Pitt.

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Pitt, A.L., Baldwin, R.F., Lipscomb, D.J. et al. The missing wetlands: using local ecological knowledge to find cryptic ecosystems. Biodivers Conserv 21, 51–63 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0160-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0160-7

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