Wildlife Response to Secondarily-Treated Sewage Application on the Drummond Bog

Abstract

The influence of wetland wastewater treatment on resident fauna is generally unknown. The effect of secondarily-treated domestic wastewater on the terrestrial fauna of the Drummond Bog in northwestern Wisconsin was investigated during April 1979 through September 1980. Species composition and relative abundance of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial invertebrates were determined for sewage-treated and un-treated portions of a sphagnum bog, a downstream sedge meadow, and the northern hardwood uplands adjacent to these areas. Drummond Bog fauna was generally typical of a Great Lakes State bog wildlife community. Thirty mammal species occurred on the study area; 14 on the bog. The masked shrew (Sorex cinereus) and southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) were the most common species on the bog representing 59.8 and 33.8 %, respectively of snap trap captures. One-hundred eleven bird species were observed on the study area; 55 on the bog. The white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) and hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) were the most common bog species, each representing 17 % of mist net captures. Twenty-one species of reptiles and amphibians were present on the study area; 10 on the bog. The wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and eastern American toad (Bufo americanus) were the most common, representing 43 and 40%, respectively of drift fence captures. Seventy-six families of terrestrial invertebrates in 17 orders were present on the bog. Spiders and true bugs accounted for 32.3 and 22.3%, respectively of sweep net captures. There were no short-term changes in faunal composition, abundance, or diversity that could be attributed to the presence of sewage on the Drummond Bog.