Publication details
The effect of revitalization on species composition and abundance of amphibians in a valley floodplain
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Amphibians are a group closely related to wetland biotopes. They are known for their reaction to all changes in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, which makes them a very sensitive bio-indicative group of animals. Changes in the water regime, water quality, the ecological state of localities, and often also changes in the methods of agricultural management of the surrounding landscape are directly reflected in their diversity, abundance and reproduction success. The particularly accelerating transformation and pollution of the landscape thus places amphibians among the most endangered groups of our vertebrates. This is reflected in their conservation status and in the efforts to restore wetland habitats in a gentle and “close to nature” manner. In 2020, as part of the revitalization of the valley floodplain of the Spálený potok, 9 new ponds were built, reeds were mowed, and cattle grazing started. As part of the monitoring, the initial and subsequent state of biodiversity was assessed. The community of amphibians was evaluated using acoustic and visual monitoring of adults, searches for clutches, and by using colanders and live traps for catching larval and adult stages of tailed amphibians. A comparison of historical data and then data from 2020-2023 showed that the initial revitalization of the site, consisting of the construction of a new water body and terrain depressions in 2003, led to an increase in species diversity of amphibians. However, the lack of follow-up care led to the gradual overgrowth of reeds at the site and its further degradation, which led to the disappearance of most species. After the revitalization in 2020, species began to gradually return, slowly inhabiting different habitats according based on their ecological preferences. The conducted research demonstrates the ability of amphibians to quickly respond to not only negative but also to positive habitat changes, and at the same time confirms the importance of subsequent care for revitalized localities. |
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