Details zur Publikation |
| Kategorie | Textpublikation |
| Referenztyp | Zeitschriften |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11273-026-10124-0 |
Lizenz  |
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| Titel (primär) | Special ponds for special species: contrasting amphibian species richness to Epidalea calamita metamorphic success in lignite mines |
| Autor | Bolte, L.
; Henle, K.; Grimm-Seyfarth, A.
|
| Quelle | Wetlands Ecology and Management |
| Erscheinungsjahr | 2026 |
| Department | NSF |
| Band/Volume | 34 |
| Heft | 2 |
| Seite von | art. 20 |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Supplements | Supplement 1 |
| Keywords | Habitat restoration; Lignite mine; Pioneer species; Pond-breeding amphibians; Breeding success |
| Abstract | Open-cast
mines are valuable secondary habitats for many European amphibian
species. Threatened pioneer amphibians, such as natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita),
are especially bound to them and lignite mining districts in Central
Europe have become a stronghold of the species. However, these secondary
habitats are shrinking due to the coal phase-out. Studies on factors
limiting E. calamita metamorphic success in mining ponds are
missing, but they are essential to inform conservation efforts in
post-mining landscapes. Thus, we surveyed the metamorphic success of E. calamita,
along with amphibian species richness, in two lignite mines in Central
Germany. We further recorded important pond parameters, such as
morphometry, water chemistry, hydroperiod and vegetation. Since
species-rich habitats do not necessarily support specialist species, we
hypothesized that E. calamita metamorphic success and amphibian
species richness depend on different pond characteristics. To test this
hypothesis, we used ordination, generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs)
and multimodel inference to determine the most important predictors for
(i) E. calamita breeding activity, (ii) metamorphic success and (iii) amphibian species richness. Except for water acidity (pH), E. calamita
metamorphic success and amphibian species richness depended on
different parameters. Precipitation, (short) hydroperiod of ephemeral
ponds (or young age of perennial ponds) and breeding site identity were
important for E. calamita, while pond size, depth and water
surface stability were important for species richness. We therefore
argue that, in post-mining landscapes, clusters of ponds that address
natterjack toad needs should be managed and constructed spatially
separated from ponds targeting a wider range of species. |
| Bolte, L., Henle, K., Grimm-Seyfarth, A. (2026): Special ponds for special species: contrasting amphibian species richness to Epidalea calamita metamorphic success in lignite mines Wetl. Ecol. Manag. 34 (2), art. 20 10.1007/s11273-026-10124-0 |
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