Amphibians conservation in Italy: The contribution of the WWF Oases network

Abstract

Amphibians have emerged as a major conservation concern because of the global decline in their numbers in recent decades. Notwithstanding, they are often neglected in conservation planning respects to other less threatened vertebrate groups. In Italy, few studies have analyzed the effectiveness of amphibian protection regimes. The main aim of this paper is to estimate the contribution of the WWF oases network to amphibians conservation in Italy. Moreover, we conducted a prioritization of this network and we individuated additional areas that should be protected for implementing an oases role. We assembled the largest and most up-to-date dataset available for amphibians in the WWF oases, and we adopted a spatial approach based on gap and irreplaceability analyses. Our results provide a critical assessment of the oases importance for amphibians conservation. Many species that are completely uncovered by oases protection have been identified, and new areas suitable for filling the conservation gap have been recognized. We recommend designation of new reserves in these areas to help guarantee amphibian conservation. Moreover, we identified those oases that ensure the representation of the largest number of species. In this light, Monte Arcosu appeared to be the most important site for the achievement of the current degree of species representation. Together with six other oases that obtained high irreplaceability scores, Monte Arcosu represents a priority for the preservation of amphibian diversity. Specific initiatives should be primarily implemented in these oases, guaranteeing that highly irreplaceable sites will maintain their crucial role in the future.

Protected areas and insect conservation: questioning the effectiveness ofNatura 2000 network for saproxylic beetles inItaly

“…Stokland, ; Gaspar et al ., ). The present study focus on geographic priorities for saproxylic beetles conservation in Italy, where several studies have addressed the effectiveness of protected areas for terrestrial vertebrates only (Maiorano, Falcucci & Boitani, ; Maiorano et al ., ; D'Amen et al ., ; Bombi et al ., 2011 a ). These authors found that existing protected areas are often insufficient to conserve current patterns of biodiversity in Italy.…”

Species–people correlations and the need to account for survey effort in biodiversity analyses

“…A coexistence of high herptile diversity and dense human settlements across Europe could be particularly worrying from a conservation biogeography perspective (Araújo, ) and would require increasing efforts for wetland habitat restoration in urbanized landscapes (Scheffers & Paszkowski, ). Herptiles face increasing conservation threats (Stuart et al ., ; Sinervo et al ., ) and are nevertheless neglected compared with other vertebrates (Bombi et al ., ), besides being the object of negative attitudes from people (Ceríaco, ). The broad‐scale species–people correlation could be particularly important for amphibians, as both people and amphibians depend on the availability of freshwater (e.g.…”