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Published on: November 13, 2017
Quantitative recommendations for amphibian terrestrial habitat conservation derived from habitat selection behavior
Lukas Indermaur1, Benedikt R Schmidt
1Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Uberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Summary
Conservation scientists can provide usable data for managers by quantifying habitat needs. This study shows how to estimate wood deposit requirements for toad populations, improving terrestrial habitats.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Amphibian Research
Background:
- Conservation managers often do not use scientific data for decision-making.
- Scientific information is frequently not presented in a format directly usable by practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a method for deriving quantitative conservation recommendations.
- To estimate the habitat requirements of toad populations, specifically wood deposit needs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized habitat-dependence analysis to estimate resource requirements.
- Quantified individual and population-level needs for wood deposits.
- Assessed species' preferences for wood deposit sizes.
Main Results:
- Estimated specific quantities of wood deposits required by individual toads and populations.
- Determined the total area required for toad populations based on habitat needs.
- Found limited evidence for size preferences in wood deposits, with one species preferring smaller sizes.
Conclusions:
- Habitat-dependence analysis provides a practical tool for quantifying habitat requirements.
- Increasing wood deposits can enhance terrestrial habitats for amphibians.
- This approach can help managers increase habitat carrying capacity and support higher population densities.
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