Man-made Mediterranean temporary ponds as a tool for amphibian conservation

Abstract

-Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTPs) are crucial breeding sites for local amphibians, a faunal group in decline in the Mediterranean mainly due to wetland destruction. Although the disappearance of lentic habitats in other regions of the world has been ameliorated by the creation and restoration of wetlands, these tactics remain untested in Mediterranean wetlands. To evaluate the amphibian colonization dynamics of artificial MTPs in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula, we monitored two artificial MTPs (one in a highdiversity area and the other in a low-diversity area) over 2 years. We selected reference wetlands at each area, and amphibian communities of man-made MTPs were compared to those of reference wetlands. We found that, beginning in the first year, artificial MTPs were a valuable habitat for regional amphibian fauna. Posteriorly, we focused on the reproductive success of the natterjack toad, Bufo calamita. Using a drift fence equipped with pit-fall traps, we measured the abundance of both reproductive adults entering the pond and post-metamorphic individuals exiting the pond. Using mark-recapture methods, we analyzed the time and energy costs associated with reproduction in the artificial MTPs. We observed a highly variable colonization dynamics between sites, between hydroperiods, and within hydroperiods, and these dynamics often depended on meteorological factors. Our results suggest that even at a short timescale, native amphibian species such as B. calamita can benefit from wetland creation in the Mediterranean region.

A test of the substitution–habitat hypothesis in amphibians

“…The former 2 species are opportunistic colonizers that can reproduce in ponds in a human‐altered matrix, including abandoned mines and quarries (Galán ; Kordges ), shallow ponds on bare soil (Galán, ; García‐González & García‐Vázquez ), and ponds in urban areas (Ruhi et al. ). The latter two species can reproduce in small, temporary artificial water bodies that are common in the agricultural landscape, such as depressions filled with road runoff (Díaz‐Paniagua ; Manenti et al.…”

“…Traditional human activities most likely have subsidized demographically some behaviorally plastic species such as Alytes obstetricans, Epidalea calamita, Salamandra salamandra, and Lissotriton boscai, the 4 species more common in substitution than in original habitat. The former 2 species are opportunistic colonizers that can reproduce in ponds in a human-altered matrix, including abandoned mines and quarries (Galán 1997;Kordges 2003), shallow ponds on bare soil (Galán, 1999;García-González & García-Vázquez 2012), and ponds in urban areas (Ruhi et al 2012). The latter two species can reproduce in small, temporary artificial water bodies that are common in the agricultural landscape, such as depressions filled with road runoff (Díaz-Paniagua 1990;Manenti et al 2009;Gómez-Rodríguez et al 2012).…”

Freshwater biodiversity conservation through source water protection: Quantifying the potential and addressing the challenges

“…In general, restored or rehabilitated wetlands are found to provide greater benefits for freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functioning than created wetlands, yet these benefits are not as great as those provided by natural wetlands (Meli, Rey Benayas, Balvanera, & Martinez Ramos, 2014;Sebastián-González & Green, 2016;Spadafora et al, 2016). Some studies examining wetland birds, invertebrates, and amphibians have found evidence of positive change in population abundance or species presence, although these changes are not necessarily sustained over time (Brown, Smith, & Batzer, 1997;Hapner et al, 2011;Ruhi et al, 2012). Restored peatlands have been shown to support freshwater communities comparable with those in natural wetlands (Brown, Ramchunder, Beadle, & Holden, 2016).…”

A Review of the Factors That Determine Whether Stormwater Ponds Are Ecological Traps And/or High-Quality Breeding Sites for Amphibians

“…Finally, it seems important to consider the temporality of the process in the analysis of the suitability of stormwater ponds as habitats for amphibians. Whether it be short-term because of a variable hydroperiod, or long-term because of the need to be cleaned regularly to avoid filling, the question remains: Can stormwater ponds be considered temporary wetlands, such as the natural temporary Mediterranean pools mentioned by Babbitt and Tanner (2000); Beja and Alcazar (2003); Jakob et al (2003); Bagella et al (2010); Ruhí et al (2012) or the continental pools mentioned by Lukács et al (2013)? If so, should these ponds be included in local or regional plans to enhance biodiversity?…”