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METAPOPULATION DYNAMICS AND AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION
Citation:
Marsh, D. M. AND P. C. Trenham. METAPOPULATION DYNAMICS AND AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY. Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, 15(1):40-49, (2001).
Description:
In many respects, amphibian spatial dynamics resemble classical metapopulation models, where subpopulations in breeding ponds blink in and out of existance and where extinction and colonization rates are functions of pond spatial arrangement. This "ponds-as-patches" view of amphibian spatial dynamics is useful in several respects. First, it highlights the importance of regional and landscape processes in determining local pattern of abundance. Second, it offers a straightforward, pond-based approach to monitoring and managing amphibian populations. For many species, however, the ponds-as-patches view may be an oversimplification and metapopulation structure may be more apparent than real. Changes in distribution may be caused by processes other than extinction and recolonization, and most extinctions probably result from deterministic factors, not stochastic processes. In addition, the effects of pond isolation appear to be important primarily in disturbed environments, and in many cases, these isolation effects may be better explained by the distribution of terrestrial
habitats than by distribution of breeding ponds. These complecations have important
implications for both researchers and managers. For researchers, future efforts need to
determine the mechanisms underlying patterns of abundance and distributed change and
patterns in amphibian populations. For managers, effective conservation strategies must successfully balance metapopulation considerations with careful attention to habitat quality. Furthermore, translocations and active management may be indispensable tools for conserving amphibians in landscapes containing multiple breeding ponds.