Extension News: Extension publications Archives

As voters prepare to discuss town budget articles, UNH Cooperative Extension entomologist Dr. Alan Eaton has posted an updated 15-page paper on mosquito-borne diseases in New Hampshire, and the various options to manage the problem.

If your town is considering spending money on mosquito management, you'll find this publication especially helpful.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
EEE is the most common and severe of these diseases. In 2005, New Hampshire had the highest number of human EEE cases in the nation, prompting much attention to ways of reducing the risk.

Many towns and cities started discussing mosquito monitoring or spraying programs, particularly in Rockingham County, the part of the state with the highest risk for EEE. There are many ways to reduce EEE risk, including new insect-repellents options for individuals.

Personal protection: new publication on insect repellents
Eaton has also posted a companion publication titled Insect Repellents, which covers the DEET-based repellents on which we have relied for many years, as well as Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus and other active ingredients.

"Wetlands serve many important functions in our landscapes, including flood control, groundwater protection, and sediment trapping, but their role in providing habitat for ambhibians is often a main reason natural resource professionals and communities are interested in protecting wetlands," says Matt Tarr, UNH Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist.

"Wildlife biologists use amphibians as 'indicator' species, whose presence or absence serves as an important indication of overall environmental quality. Amphibian diversity is a good indication that we're providing habitat for a wide range of other wildlife species as well," Tarr says.

"New Hampshire has many different types of wetlands, including marshes, forested swamps, vernal pools, and ponds," he says. "But because not all amphibian species are found in every type of wetland, planners must protect a diversity of wetland types to maintain a diversity of wildlife species.

"Unfortunately, it's not always possible to avoid loss or alteration of individual wetlands during some development projects." Tarr says. "In these situations, natural resource professionals, town planners, and landowners have the difficult task of deciding which wetlands are most valuable to protect as wildlife habitat, and which ones the community can afford to lose or alter."

Guide helps planners make the tough decisions about which wetlands and wetland buffers to protect
To help these audiences make the tough decisions, Tarr teamed with UNH Widllife Ecology Professor Kim Babbitt to produce The Importance of Hydroperiod in Wetland Assessment: A guide for community officials, planners, and natural resource professionals.

The guide describes a biologically-based method for determining what species of amphibians will use any given wetland by assessing wetlands based on their hydroperiod, the length of time and portion of the year that a wetland holds water.

"Wetlands vary in their hydroperiod from less than a few weeks each year to to permanent lakes or ponds," says Tarr. "Between these extremes are wetlands that hold water for various lengths of time, including some wetlands that dry out only in years of low precipitation.

"Hydroperiod is a major factor in determining not only if a wetland will hold water long enough for a frog to complete its development from egg, to tadpole, to young frog, but it also determines what types of predators (e.g., fish and certain aquatic insects) might live in the wetland preying on young amphibians," Tarr says. "Assessing and understanding wetland hydroperiod is an important first step guiding management decisions aimed at minimizing or avoiding loss or degradation of wetlands that provide significant amphibian breeding habitat within an area."

Based on the most current amphibian research, including research Babbitt herself conducted in New Hampshire, the guide:

• Summarizes the current understanding of wetland hydroperiod and how it influences the distribution of amphibians in New Hampshire.


• Provides suggestions for identifying and assessing wetlands in New Hampshire based on their hydroperiod.


• Provides recommendations for guiding land management practices aimed at maintaining a diversity of wetlands and upland connections between wetland habitat, two important factors for maintaining viable amphibian populations throughout the state.

"Anyone with an interest in protecting and conserving amphibians will make better management decisions if they understand the important role wetland hydroperiod plays in determining habitat use and distribution of amphibians," says Tarr.

Download The Importance of Hydroperiod in Wetland Assessment: A guide for community officials, planners, and natural resource professionals

Purchase a high-resolution CD online ($10)

Contact Matt Tarr: 862-3594 or mtarr@ceunh.unh.edu