Restoring ponds for amphibians: a success story |
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Authors: | R Rannap A Lõhmus L Briggs |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia;(2) Ministry of the Environment, Narva Road 7A, 15172 Tallinn, Estonia;(3) Amphi Consult, International Sciencepark Odense, Forskerparken 10, 5230 Odense M, Denmark |
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Abstract: | Large-scale restoration of quality habitats is often considered essential for the recovery of threatened pond-breeding amphibians
but only a few successful cases are documented, so far. We describe a landscape-scale restoration project targeted at two
declining species—the crested newt (Triturus cristatus Laur.) and the common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus Wagler)—in six protected areas in southern and southeastern Estonia. The ponds were restored or created in clusters to (i)
increase the density and number of breeding sites at local and landscape levels; (ii) provide adjacent ponds with differing
depths, hydroperiods and littoral zones and (iii) restore an array of wetlands connected to appropriate terrestrial habitat.
In only 3 years, where 22 of the 405 existing ponds (5%) were restored and 208 new ponds (51%) created, the number of ponds
occupied by the common spadefoot toad increased 6.5 times. Concerning the crested newt and the moor frog (Rana arvalis Nilsson), the increase was 2.3 and 2.5 times, respectively. The target species had breeding attempts in most of the colonised
ponds—even more frequently than common species. Also, the amphibian species richness was higher in the restored than in the
untreated ponds. The crested newt preferably colonised ponds that had some submerged vegetation and were surrounded by forest
or a mosaic of forest and open habitats. The common spadefoot toad favoured ponds having clear and transparent water. Our
study reveals that habitat restoration for threatened pond-breeding amphibians can rapidly increase their numbers if the restoration
is implemented at the landscape scale, taking into account the habitat requirements of target species and the ecological connectivity
of populations. When the remnant populations are strong enough, translocation of individuals may not be necessary.
Guest editors: B. Oertli, R. Cereghino, A. Hull & R. Miracle
Pond Conservation: From Science to Practice. 3rd Conference of the European Pond Conservation Network, Valencia, Spain, 14–16
May 2008 |
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Keywords: | Estonia Aquatic habitat management Threatened species Pelobates fuscus Triturus cristatus |
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