[en] 1. Amphibians are declining worldwide in response to local and global pressures. Pond-breeding species are particularly vulnerable to environmental change because they rely on two components of the landscape: aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Agricultural practices are changing rapidly at world and local scales. As a consequence, farm ponds and their surrounding terrestrial landscapes will probably be affected. 2. This study investigated the main habitat determinants for the occurrence of four species of newts (genus Triturus) inhabiting the Pays de Herve, a rural area in Belgium. Newt occurrence was determined for 258 ponds and the effect of habitat on distribution determinants was evaluated using generalized linear models. 3. Newts were found in 42% of the ponds. Contrary to expectations, the distribution of newts was not positively associated with a high density of ponds. However, a low occurrence of newts and the low water depth of many ponds suggest a low quality of habitats. Proximity to forest, deep water, and an absence of fish in ponds are factors that significantly favour newts, but terrestrial habitat requirements vary among species. 4. These results indicate the necessity of maintaining both forest and meadow patches in close proximity to ponds inhabited by newts., and of controlling fish introduction in those ponds. These findings stress the importance of conservation and management of terrestrial and aquatic habitats for maintaining amphibian diversity. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Denoël, Mathieu ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Ficetola, G. Francesco; University of Milano-Bicocca
Language :
English
Title :
Conservation of newt guilds in an agricultural landscape of Belgium: the importance of aquatic and terrestrial habitats
Publication date :
2008
Journal title :
Aquatic Conservation
ISSN :
1052-7613
eISSN :
1099-0755
Publisher :
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Volume :
18
Issue :
5
Pages :
714-728
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] DGRNE - Région wallonne. Direction générale des Ressources naturelles et de l'Environnement [BE]
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