Fish and Amphibians ♦ 117 Fish and amphibian abundance and diversity in two created freshwater

This study demonstrated differences in fish and amphibian species abundances between two created freshwater marshes at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park in Ohio. Minnow traps were used to sample fish and amphibians from each of three basins located within two wetlands. There were a significantly higher number of bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catasbeiana) in the naturally colonized (W2) compared to planted wetland (W1). Tadpole abundances were not significantly different between individual basins within each wetland. All species showed a general trend of decreased abundance from inflow to outflow basins. Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) populations were estimated to be 630 ± 524 individuals in W1 and 439 ± 259 individuals in W2. Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), hybrid sunfish and golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) were found in both wetlands while goldfish (Carassius auratus) were only found in W2. Total fish and green sunfish abundances were similar in both wetlands. Wetland 1 showed no significant difference in species abundances between wetlands while Wetland 2 showed significant differences in green sunfish, total fish, and goldfish abundances between basins