Identifying threats to Pyrenean brook newt (Calotriton asper) to improve decision making in conservation management: A literature review complemented by expert-driven knowledge

Dalibard, Manon; Buisson, Laëtitia; Ribéron, Alexandre; Laffaille, Pascal

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125801

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…The current rate of world extinctions is estimated to be between eight and 100 times higher than the background extinction rate (Ceballos et al, 2015). Habitat loss is the single biggest threat to biodiversity, but invasive species, exploitation, disease, and anthropogenic climate change also pose significant ongoing threats (Díaz et al, 2020;Maxwell, Fuller, Brooks, & Watson, 2016;Sax & Gaines, 2008). Diagnosing the causes of species' decline and extinction is often complex, as threats may operate independently, synergistically, successively, or at different locations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Expert elicitation is a well‐established approach for dealing with uncertainties in biodiversity conservation when primary evidence is limited or inconsistent, as consolidated opinions of a range of individuals are generally more accurate than those of one or few experts (Burgman et al, 2011; Martin et al, 2012; McBride et al, 2012). For example, Geyle et al (2020) used expert elicitation to evaluate the extinction risk of Australia’s most imperilled squamate species and Dalibard, Buisson, Riberon and Laffaile (2020) used expert judgement to assist with identifying the primary threats to the Pyrenean brook newt ( Calotriton asper ). Expert elicitation is becoming increasingly sophisticated as the biases in judgment are better understood (Hemming, Burgman, Hanea, McBride, & Wintle, 2018; Roy, Peyton, & Booy, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The lost lizards of Christmas Island: A retrospective assessment of factors driving the collapse of a native reptile community

Emery

Mitchell

Cogger

et al. 2021

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Until recently, the reptile fauna of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean comprised five endemic species (two skinks, two geckos, and one snake) and one native, non‐endemic skink. Four of these species were common and widespread until at least 1979, but by 2012 had disappeared from the wild. During the years of decline, little research was undertaken to examine why the species were disappearing. Here, we use a retrospective expert elicitation to rank potential factors that contributed to the loss of Christmas Island's reptiles and to assess the likelihood of re‐establishing populations of two species now listed as Extinct in the Wild. We additionally considered why one endemic lizard, the Christmas Island giant gecko (Cyrtodactylus sadleiri), and three introduced lizards remain common. Experts considered that the introduced common wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus) was the most likely cause of decline, as its temporal and spatial spread across the island closely matched patterns of lizard disappearances. An Asian co‐occurrence in recent evolutionary timeframes of the common wolf snake with the Christmas Island giant gecko and three introduced reptiles was the most marked point of difference between the extant and lost lizard species. The demise in less than 20 years of 80% of Christmas Island's native lizard assemblage highlights the vulnerability of island fauna to invading species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The lost lizards of Christmas Island: A retrospective assessment of factors driving the collapse of a native reptile community

Emery

Mitchell

Cogger

et al. 2021

Conservat Sci and Prac

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“…To date, few studies have focused on the effects of water quality on the Pyrenean brook newt (Montori et al, 1982). Yet chemical and physical perturbations induced by agricultural activities could affect water quality, hence limiting the Pyrenean brook newt presence (Dalibard et al, 2020; Pottier et al, 2021), by affecting larval development for example (Rouse et al, 1999). Our results seem to support this hypothesis, as the most suitable stream reaches for the Pyrenean brook newt were predicted to be surrounded by no or small surfaces allocated to agriculture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accounting for flow intermittence in freshwater species distribution modelling

et al. 2021

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To forecast species responses to environmental changes, it is crucial to understand drivers of species distribution acting at multiple spatial and temporal scales. While hydrology is acknowledged as a key driver for freshwater species, most studies have been limited to perennial river flow regimes when exploring species distribution in rivers. We developed a method to characterize stream flow to subsequently account for flow intermittence in species distribution models (SDMs). First, we used the hydrological Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to simulate flow in the French Pyrenees at fine spatial grain and large spatial extent. Several metrics characterizing flow intermittence were subsequently included in a SDM along with topographic, hydrographic, climatic and land use variables. We applied this methodology to an extensive data set of the Pyrenean brook newt (Calotriton asper) presence in France.This amphibian is highly dependent on aquatic habitats, and its distribution could be mainly driven by hydrological and climatic variables. We found that 60% of the stream network of the study area is intermittent. Maximum air temperature and proportion of agricultural areas contribution in explaining species distribution were the most important (26.3% and 21.2%, respectively). Both variables negatively influenced the probability of presence of the Pyrenean brook newt. We also found a negative correlation with the frequency of zero-flow events (13%), emphasizing the role of flow intermittence in driving aquatic species distribution. Our study provides new insights into fine-grained hydrology in the Pyrenees and illustrates intermittence characterization and mapping methods that could be applied elsewhere.

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Development of an Environmental and Faecal DNA Tool for Monitoring the Spatial Distribution and Fish Predation on the Mountain Amphibian Calotriton asper

Deluen,

Loot,

Bertrand

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Gathering ecological knowledge about species with cryptic behaviour can be challenging and strongly depends on human, financial and logistical resources. Yet, this is essential for the conservation of threatened and/or elusive species and wildlife management. The use of DNA tools is emerging as an efficient solution to overcome these constraints. Here, we developed specific primers and a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) protocol for the quantitative detection of the endemic amphibian Calotriton asper in freshwater and fish faeces. After successful in silico validation of the developed primers, we tested their validity in the wild. First, using an environmental DNA approach, we confirmed the presence of C. asper in eight out of 13 sites deemed climatically suitable for the species, although it had never been observed there before. Then, we sampled brown trout (Salmo trutta) living in sympatry with C. asper and, through fish faeces analyses, confirmed that brown trout are predators of C. asper. These molecular tools proved efficient for monitoring (i) elusive species such as C. asper in the wild, allowing for better characterization of their current distribution and habitat use, and (ii) predation events by fish, which might be a significant pressure on low‐density and isolated C. asper populations. We provide a valuable, low‐cost and complementary tool for environmental managers and scientists that should help improve the development of fine‐tuned conservation and management plans for C. asper.

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Identifying threats to Pyrenean brook newt (Calotriton asper) to improve decision making in conservation management: A literature review complemented by expert-driven knowledge

Cited by 4 publications

References 82 publications

The lost lizards of Christmas Island: A retrospective assessment of factors driving the collapse of a native reptile community

The lost lizards of Christmas Island: A retrospective assessment of factors driving the collapse of a native reptile community

Accounting for flow intermittence in freshwater species distribution modelling

Development of an Environmental and Faecal DNA Tool for Monitoring the Spatial Distribution and Fish Predation on the Mountain Amphibian Calotriton asper

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