}

What to do to save amphibians?

2006/05/01 Gosá Oteiza, Alberto - ARANZADI Zientzi Elkarteko biologoa | Rubio Pilarte, Xabier - ARANZADI Zientzi Elkarteko biologoa Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

It is essential to make known the world of amphibians and socialize the importance of their conservation, even more before the worrying current situation. It should be influenced by public administrations that must guarantee the protection of the fauna, strengthening the pressure on them. So far, the dissemination of knowledge has been overwhelmed. We have not been able to divulge, neither from universities, nor from scientific associations, nor from ecological groups. Awareness campaigns have been carried out independently and on time. But acting like this, society will not suffer any change and the situation will remain.
What to do to save amphibians?
01/05/2006 | Gosá Oteiza, Alberto; Rubio Pilarte, Xabier | Biologists of the Science Society ARANZADI
Red frog.
A. A. Hunger Hunger Hunger Hunger

Although we have not been successful in the dissemination, as for the technique, the methodology is increasingly broad. XX. At the end of the twentieth century, in the face of habitat destruction and population disappearance, a practical branch called Amphibian Conservation was created. Since then, experiences have multiplied.

The protocols of action are the basis of the measures designed for management. These should be adapted to the characteristics of the local environment and the local amphibian community. Vital population monitoring programs should be performed for long time series (15-20 years and older), at least to obtain reliable data from their evolution. It should be noted that each threatened population is in a concrete situation. Therefore, it is necessary to design projects based on specific research.

For example, it should be taken into account that the seasonality of the wetlands of the Basque Country is usual, except in the case of large artificial reservoirs. And amphibians, 'old' local, have adapted to the water systems of the season. But it has not occurred to amphibians that the warming of the planet could reduce the duration of these wetlands. However, if the wells are dried before, the larval cycle would be unfinished, which would cause a deterioration of the populations.

In the face of such incidents, managers should be attentive to the correction of wetland creation projects. One of them can be the creation of wells of greater capacity, that is, a greater accumulation of water to last longer. And it is not a matter of building permanent ponds anywhere, as these types of wetlands are often rare in the natural environment.

In addition, new threats to amphibians can appear in permanent pools, such as the introduction of foreign species. As you well know in Europe, in these puddles are released on too many occasions fish, turtles and river crabs, which reduces or eliminates amphibian populations.

Another alternative can be the formation of humid zones adjacent to the existing ones, as complement to the reproduction. Likewise, it would be very suitable for recovery projects, especially on the Atlantic side, the conservation of native forests with the greatest number of possible wetlands.

One of the conservation possibilities of amphibians is the creation of others together with existing wetlands. In the image, a well enabled for the southern ranita in Mendizorrotz.
A. A. Hunger Hunger Hunger Hunger

Steps taken

We do not start from zero, but attempts to recover amphibians have been scarce. Conservation is not rooted in our habits. Therefore, to show that the management of threatened species is the responsibility of the administration has not been easy, less even beyond the emblematic birds or mammals.

Pioneers were the efforts made in the years 80 and 90 of the last century to know the species of our territory and its distribution. The direct consequence of these efforts were the atlas and some published studies that allowed us to know the state of amphibian populations. But the information is obsolete and accelerates a lot today, taking into account that the natural environment is being transformed continuously and uncontrollably. To be able to approach it through management plans, it is essential to have research teams specialized in conservation.

Conclusion of the conclusion Conclusion

The tritons of the summits are beautiful and people catch them. This type of behavior should be avoided in the face of conservation.
A. A. Hunger Hunger Hunger Hunger

The current planning of the territory does not favor the future of amphibian populations. Urbanism commands and makes new infrastructures everywhere. The rural environment, due to the concentration parcelaria, is directed towards a homogenization, eliminating non-usable areas such as wells and river margins. As mentioned above, the awareness of society will only focus administrative policy on the recovery of natural spaces and emblematic species. This is the case of alpine triton, painted toads or pyrenean forest frog. These are unique species, with populations threatened but on which management is not yet carried out, although there are projects.

At the same time, the research groups are new, they are forming and preparing, so you can not follow up on the populations. Some populations may be losing in some places, but this loss is not studied. In our case, short-term extinction is not expected, but the number of threatened populations is increasing and the scope of the problem is unknown.

Measured along the leg it can be known that this frog is a specimen of the species Dalmatian frog (agile frog).
(Photo: A. A. Gosá)

The Basque panorama can be differentiated in two aspects. On the Atlantic side, it seems more difficult to address population management. As it is an area of high human density, the conservation model resorts to islands formed by communities of local amphibians. This model is very dangerous, because it greatly limits the relationship between populations, but given the existing territorial organization, is there another alternative? The peculiarities of the Mediterranean slope -- extensive plain crossed by mountains -- can alleviate management problems. The limits to overcome would be the destruction of ecosystems and their diversity and the pollution produced by agriculture.

The only viable model on both sides is to properly design amphibian breeding wetlands. After centuries of drying and filling of wetlands, the resolution of the current problems of aquatic habitats should be an absolute priority. We should leave water quality for a second phase. The road will be as long as difficult, so let's start as soon as possible.

Websites of interest:

http://amphibiaweb.org

http://www.sosanfibios.org

http://www.open.ac.uk/daptf/index.htm

http://www.herpetologica.org

Conservation projects: two examples
Agile frog.
(Photo: A. A. Gosá)
In the Orgi Forest (Ultzama, Navarre), a stagnant valley bottom stealth, a forest agile frog recovery plan is underway. Endangered species in the Iberian Peninsula. In other similar cases, the same measures have been taken as in the wetland inventory used and can be used by the frog for its reproduction, the creation of wells, the transfer of eggs, and their introduction into new wells, and the controlled growth of the tadpoles. In these tasks, biology students and environmental volunteers have collaborated. Results to date: Orgin has consolidated a population of 200-400 adults capable of reproducing itself.
Southern Ranita.
(Photo: X. Blond))
In Mendizorrotz (Gipuzkoa) a management plan for the southern "endangered" ranita is being developed in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. After analyzing the situation of the population, in 1998, it was only reproduced in an old reservoir in danger of extinction (Igara, San Sebastián). Since the adoption of the Management Plan in 1999, more than a dozen wells have been formed throughout the mountains. In them, mature individuals and tadpoles have been introduced, confirming the proliferation of the species in most cases.
International Congress of Herpetology
The Aranzadi Science Society will organize the first congress of herpetology to be held in Euskal Herria. In this task will collaborate the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), the Spanish Association of Herpetology (AHE), the Portuguese Association of Herpetology (SPH) and the Association of Naturalists Haritzalde. This initiative aims to promote collaboration and communication among the herpetologists of the Iberian Peninsula.
The congress will be held in October 2006, but it is already underway. The congress will take place from 4 to 7 October and the day before, on 3, will be held a course on research and conservation techniques of amphibians and reptiles.
More information:
www.aranzadi-herpetologia.com
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