Can a cow save a newt? The role of cattle drinking troughs in amphibian conservation

Abstract

1. Amphibians are the vertebrate group experiencing the steepest global population decline and species loss. Habitat alteration and loss caused by the intensification of agriculture is among the main causes; however, in the past, amphibians have been favoured by traditional agriculture and husbandry as more terrestrial and aquatic habitats became available through land-use diversification and the construction of artificial facilities for cattle watering. Troughs for cattle watering may represent the only permanent water points for amphibian reproduction in humanmodified landscapes. 2. The present study focused on Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis, a semi-aquatic salamander, subendemic and widespread in Italy, capable of colonizing artificial aquatic habitats. The main goal was to determine the importance of drinking troughs for the ecology and conservation of the species in a hilly area (Latium region, Central Italy) subjected to traditional livestock farming (i.e. Maremmana cattle). 3. Specifically, generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to analyse the effects of drinking trough characteristics (i.e. size, substrate, aquatic vegetation), landscape features (distance to the forest, forest cover, percentage of cultivated lands and infrastructural development, terrestrial connectivity) and intensity of management practices on the occurrence and abundance of the target species.4. In the light of the present results, it is suggested that drinking troughs represent suitable surrogates for pristine habitats for L. vulgaris meridionalis. Hence, even man-made aquatic habitats, associated with traditional husbandry, may help to sustain amphibian populations in landscapes where natural wetlands are scarce. The present findings are timely because of the lack of empirical data on the role of drinking troughs in amphibian conservation within rural socio-economic scenarios, which may have been neglected in research and policy in favour of lakes, rivers and streams.

Preliminary Analysis of the Diet of Triturus carnifex and Pollution in Mountain Karst Ponds in Central Apennines

“…The differences in the chemical and physical conditions observed in the sampled sites may be the direct consequence of such kind of pasture management: in fact, while sheep do not usually wade the ponds, cows and horses are frequently observed in them. Thus, ponds are subject to livestock wading and defecation, determining an alteration of water quality, while drinking troughs or tanks does not usually undergo these pressures [29,59]. This could explain the notable differences between the natural sampled sites and the artificial ones, in terms of abiotic conditions.…”

Can We Share? Feeding Strategy in Three Syntopic Newts in Artificial Habitats

“…Using satellite images (Google Earth ©) and site visits, we identified wells within an area covering approximately 200 km 2 Figure 1). Field work was carried out within the "Monti Aurunci Regional Park" which is characterized by Mediterranean scrubs (Spartium junceum L., Myrtus communis L., Pistacia lentiscus L., Arbutus unedo L., Calluna vulgaris L., Erica spp.)…”

“…Widespread amphibian declines have become a critical issue in Conservation Biology during the past two decades, especially in the Mediterranean region where reproductive sites are increasingly disappearing because of habitat loss, alteration and fragmentation caused by agricultural intensification and urban development [1]. However, artificial sites specifically designed for irrigation and cattle watering (i.e., wells, tanks and drinking troughs) may represent an important contribution to the potential breeding habitats for amphibians [2]. However, the role of artificial habitats for the resilience of amphibian populations has not been deeply investigated and the ecology and conservation of amphibians in such habitats is almost neglected [3].…”

“…Understanding the association of newts with artificial aquatic sites may represent a useful tool for effective conservation strategies of amphibians, especially in areas where original habitats have been degraded and/or lost [2,3]. Such kind of studies are timely since most of the artificial habitats associated with traditional agriculture and cattle watering are disappearing because of the adoption of modern and intensive farming practices and the abandonment of traditional irrigation methods [3,26].…”

Temporary pond loss as a result of pasture abandonment: exploring the social-ecological drivers and consequences on amphibians

“…Scattered across the landscape, these ponds increases the local and landscape scale biodiversity for several taxa (Ruhí et al, 2012; Demeter & Hartel, 2007; Scheffer et al, 2006) and contributes to the metapopulation persistence for several species (Semlitsch & Bodie, 1998). The habitat value of small, man-made temporary ponds for amphibians in farming landscapes was documented by several studies (Ruhí et al, 2012; Curado et al, 2011; Hartel and von Wehrden, 2013; Plǎiaşu, Bǎncilǎ, Samoilǎ, Hartel & Cogǎlniceanu, 2012; Buono et al, 2019). In several regions the duration of the temporary ponds is largely dependent on precipitation (Winter, 2000).…”