Pond Quality Determinants of Occurrence Patterns of Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus)

Gustafson, Daniel; Andersen, Astrid; Mikusiński, Grzegorz; Malmgren, Jan C.

doi:10.1670/07-216r1.1

Cited by 22 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Previous studies on the ecology of crested and smooth newts considered heterogeneous sets of environmental variables and spatial scales [1], [15], [20]–[25], [39], [56] (Table 1). Each of these studies highlighted determinants of newt distribution and thus improved our knowledge in terms of conservation management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similar Local and Landscape Processes Affect Both a Common and a Rare Newt Species

et al. 2013

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Although rare species are often the focus of conservation measures, more common species may experience similar decline and suffer from the same threatening processes. We tested this hypothesis by examining, through an information-theoretic approach, the importance of ecological processes at multiple scales in the great crested newt Triturus cristatus, regionally endangered and protected in Europe, and the more common smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris. Both species were similarly affected by the same processes, i.e. suitability of aquatic and terrestrial components of their habitat at different scales, connectivity among breeding sites, and the presence of introduced fish. T. cristatus depended more on water depth and aquatic vegetation than L. vulgaris. The results show that environmental pressures threaten both common and rare species, and therefore the more widespread species should not be neglected in conservation programs. Because environmental trends are leading to a deterioration of aquatic and terrestrial habitat features required by newt populations, populations of the common species may follow the fate of the rarest species. This could have substantial conservation implications because of the numerical importance of common species in ecosystems and because commonness could be a transient state moving towards rarity. On the other hand, in agreement with the umbrella species concept, targeting conservation efforts on the most demanding species would also protect part of the populations of the most common species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similar Local and Landscape Processes Affect Both a Common and a Rare Newt Species

et al. 2013

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“…Preferred terrestrial habitats are covered by vegetation; with the shelter provided by understory vegetation especially important. Open sites are avoided (Halley et al 1996, Gustafson et al 2009, Vuorio et al 2013, Vuorio et al 2015. Both species share similar seasonal and daily activities.…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In these studies, the quality of forested vegetation on the surrounding breeding ponds has rarely been investigated in detail. In Fennoscandia, the species occurs at its northern range margin and generally occupies a forest-dominated landscape where the factors affecting the distribution and abundance of the newts are likely to be different, in comparison with the southern European populations (Gustafson et al 2006, Skei et al 2006, Gustafson et al 2009, Gustafson et al 2011.…”

Section: Aims Of the Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pellet et al 2007, Denoël and Ficetola 2008, Gustafson et al 2009, Hartel et al 2010, Gustafson et al 2011, Gomez-Rodriguez et al 2012; but see Joly et al 2001;Denoel and Lehmann 2006). Presence-absence data are useful to assess distribution patterns of species and to detect changes in them.…”

Section: Aims Of the Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, logging in the vicinity of breeding and potential breeding ponds should be avoided or completed using selective cutting (Halley et al 1996, Vuorio et al 2015. The canopy layer and understory vegetation must not be disturbed since it should offer enough shelter for the newts against predators and from desiccation (Halley et al 1996, Gustafson et al 2009, Vuorio et al 2013, Vuorio et al 2015.…”

Section: Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation biology of the great crested newt in managed boreal forests in Finland

Vuorio¹

2016

Diss. For.

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This study focuses on the population and behavioral ecology of the endangered great crested newt in its natural forest habitat in Finland. I also explored the characteristics of the smooth newt and compared the two species. They are closely related but occur with different abundances in the same environments.Hatching success and survival of eggs were modelled using a combination of field and literature data. Eggs that were laid in the early season produced the best hatching results. This success rate dropped dramatically in combination with a decreasing water level. Terrestrial habitat characteristics, such as the amount of herb-rich forests, clear-cuts and broad-leaved trees, were related to the breeding success of the newts. Both newt species distinctly favored forests with high understory vegetation cover. Both the common and the rare species showed largely similar habitat use, however the rare species avoided clear-cut areas and was more abundant on sites where shelter was provided by the canopy and field-layer vegetation, especially when the distance to the pond increased.Four spatially and temporally different habitat and landscape scenarios were explored to model the extinction and colonization dynamics of the great crested newt. Intensified timber harvest and a shorter logging rotation were shown to decrease the connectivity between ponds.Overall, the results suggest that particular attention should be paid in conservation planning to the spatial arrangement of the habitat patches, especially if the intensity of the human impact is predicted to increase. The conservation effort must be targeted at securing the source ponds in the core area and the enhancement of connectivity between the habitat patches of the newts. As the hatching success of the great crested newt is strictly regulated by climatic factors, temperature and water level, a considerable future threat for the species might come with climate change.

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Combining ex situ and in situ methods to improve water quality testing for the conservation of aquatic species

Pollard

Stockwell

Bower

et al. 2016

Aquatic Conservation

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1.Determining whether water quality is suitable is an important part of managing aquatic species for conservation, although it is often challenging to achieve. Past approaches have largely consisted of tests exposing individuals to artificial solutions, or field studies that examine the effect of a subset of water quality parameters on the distribution or abundance of a species.2. Owing to the complex nature of water chemistry in natural systems, which is difficult to replicate using laboratory studies or to capture entirely with correlational field studies, these types of study may not be suitable for determining accurately whether or not water quality at a particular site is suitable for a target species. In situations where conservation outcomes rely heavily on achieving this, an alternative approach is therefore needed.3. Embryos of the threatened green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea were placed in water collected from ponds that were used by this species for breeding and ponds where breeding was not detected at Sydney Olympic Park, Australia. After 19 days, the tadpoles were placed in enclosures in the same breeding and non-breeding ponds, and monitored until they metamorphosed.4. There was no difference in tadpole survival, time to metamorphosis or body condition between the two treatments, indicating that poor water quality was not a cause of low pond occupancy by tadpoles at the site and resources should be directed towards investigating other potential causes.5. We suggest that this method of an ex situ followed by an in situ exposure study is an effective approach to eliminating or confirming poor water quality as a cause of population declines and reduced occupancy, for species that are aquatic for at least part of their life cycle. Other applications include establishing that artificially created habitat provides suitable water chemistry, or identifying a potential location for a reintroduction project.

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Pond Quality Determinants of Occurrence Patterns of Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus)

Cited by 22 publications

References 61 publications

Similar Local and Landscape Processes Affect Both a Common and a Rare Newt Species

Similar Local and Landscape Processes Affect Both a Common and a Rare Newt Species

Conservation biology of the great crested newt in managed boreal forests in Finland

Combining ex situ and in situ methods to improve water quality testing for the conservation of aquatic species

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