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Active Amphibian Population Management During the Current Filling Operation Active amphibian population management during the current filling operation Quarry Life Award 2018 Final report 1. Contestant profile . Contestant name: Kristin Geisler u. Dominik Heinz . Contestant occupation: Biologists for nature conservation . University / Organisation Naturschutzbund (NABU) Landesverband Hessen e.V. Number of people in your team: 15 2. Project overview Title: Active amphibian population management during the current filling operation Contest: (Research/Community) Research Quarry name: Malapertus, Germany 1/3 Abstract Since 2015 Heidelberger Sand und Kies and the Naturschutzbund (NABU) Landesverband Hessen e.V. are cooperating on the implementation of a biodiversity management system in the Malapertus quarry. The main objective is the collaborate planning and implementation of the renaturation as well as the nature conservation guidance during filling operation. The success of this cooperation can already be shown by a large number of accomplished nature conservation and species protection activities in the quarry. Positive effects for the company result in nature conservation consulting and an up-to-date and solid basis of collected data. Both can be used to compose risk analysis to avoid potential environmental damage. The data collection and knowledge can be valuable for the company for public relations and to prevent concerns of authorities and public. Part of the cooperation is the relocation of the two endangered species natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) and midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) as required in the final operation plan (Abschlussbetriebsplan). These two species are particularly and strictly protected in the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetzt) and the Habitats Directive (FFH-Richtlinie). The populations of those two species in Malapertus are of national importance due to their high number of individuals. In collaboration with volunteer NABU members more than 20.000 amphibians have been relocated since the beginning of the resettlement activities in 2016. The animals were relocated from the filling areas to replacement habitats in the renaturation area inside the quarry. The results about the pros and cons or successes and failures of the used relocation methods should serve as a guideline for similar projects in the future. 2/12 Final report 1 Introduction Dynamic habitats, such as constantly changing floodplains, became rare in intensively used cultural landscapes. Therefore, they have a high value for biodiversity. Many species rely on these locations and likewise became rare in Germany and Europe. The two target species in the project natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) and midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) especially depend on raw soils and temporary ponds. Quarries with steady mining activity provide structural diversity in a small area and therefore they supply secondary habitats. Due to different impacts as natural succession, changing land use or recultivation, these habitats often lose their suitability factors and characteristics. A specific biodiversity management is of high value for the conservation of biotopes and species. In 2015 a cooperation agreement between Heidelberger Sand und Kies GmbH and the Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) Landesverband Hessen e.V. was signed. The aim is implementing a biodiversity management for the Malapertus quarry in Wetzlar, which benefits the company as well as nature conservation. As part of this cooperation, a large-scale relocation of two protected species natterjack toad and midwife toad took place. Both were relocated from filling areas into previously selected and optimized habitats. The projects objective is to preserve the current high population level of the two species over the entire period of the filling process and beyond. The following final report intense to highlight the achievements for nature conservation and the company as part of the cooperation. Furthermore, experiences and efficiency of the relocation methods are compared and evaluated. 1.1 Investigated species All investigated species are amphibians. They must be relocated before recultivation because of their protection status (s. Table 1) and the extended mortality rate during the filling operation. 1.1.1 Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) The natterjack toad is a typical pioneer species which inhabits newly created ponds with burrowing raw soils and hiding places in the surrounding area. In Hessen it occurs almost exclusively in operated or abandoned mining areas (POLIVKA et al., 2014). It inhabits heaps and pit walls, if they are not shaded the entire day (NIEKISCH 1982). Typical reproduction water bodies are shallow, sun-exposed and vegetation-free small ponds such as water-filled wagon tracks, puddles and wet farmland (SANDER 1996, LAUFER & SOWIG 2007, MÖLLER & STEINBORN 1981). As daytime hiding places stones, boards, plastic films, roofing felt, construction waste and similar structures are used. For hibernation, the toad digs in or uses frost-free areas in loose stone heaps or boulders (SINSCH 2009). The reproduction period of the natterjack toad extends from April to July. Usually the males start with mating sounds at dawn, in some cases during daytime. The mating sound activity an intensity depends on weather conditions. After rainfall more animals are calling than during dry periods. Is a long-lasting dryness followed by rainfall, the calling activity is significantly higher (NIEKISCH 1982). 1.1.2 Midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) Midwife toads prefer low-vegetation, sun-exposed terrestrial habitats in heaps, stone dumps, mining areas, and storm damaged forest areas that have multiple daytime hiding places with holes and loose rocks (FELDMANN 1981). In Germany, it is nowadays found mainly in habitats that are currently or had been heavily influenced by humans (FRITZ & SCHWARZE 2007). They need winter habitats with deep soils or sufficiently deep gap systems in the substrate close to the summer habitats (GROSSENBACHER & ZUMBACH 2003). Almost all types of water bodies are used as spawning waters. Preference is given to sunny, quiet and slow-flowing streams (FRITZ & SCHWARZE 2007). Midwife toads migrate only over short distances, so that the spawning waters are close to their terrestrial habitat. Usually, adult animals do not stay further than 30 m from the water. Longer distance migrations are rare (FELDMANN 1981). The reproduction phase extends from March to August (MERTENS 1947). At dawn, the animals begin to call with a short note. Calls are occasionally heard during the daytime. The call activity depends on the weather (HEINZMANN 1970). The midwife toad is the only European amphibian that practices brood care. During mating the male wraps the eggs around its hind legs and carries them until the larvae hatch. The males search for hiding places with ideal humidity for the larval development (GLANDT 2010). After three to six weeks the larvae are released into water (ARNOLD & BURTON 1979). 3/12 1.1.3 Further species Other occurring amphibian species are common newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris), fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), common toad (Bufo bufo), common frog (Rana temporina) and green frog (Pelophylax esculentus/ridibundus). Following only the two occurring newt species are considered in more detail, since the other species only occur in a small number of individuals at Malapertus. Common newts inhabit a variety of water types and terrestrial habitats. Preferred water bodies are vegetation- rich with sufficient hiding places. The reproduction phase of the common newts extends from February/March to July. Thereafter they stay in terrestrial habitats until the hibernation from October/November to February/March (BLAB 1986). Alpine newts inhabit a variety of different small waterbodies. Preferred are ponds and puddles. The reproduction phase extends from February/March to June. Thereafter they remain in terrestrial habitats in humid day hiding places until the hibernation from October/November to February/March (BLAB 1986). Outside the migratory phases at the beginning and at the end of the reproduction phases, only slight migratory activity can be observed in both species (FELDMANN 1981). Table 1. Protection status of the four investigated species (MT midwife toad, NT natterjack toad, CN common newt, AP alpine newt, FFH Fauna-Flora-Habitat (Habitats Directive), BNatSchG Bundesnaturschutzgesetzt (Federal Nature Conservation Act), BfN responsiblity for the species according to the Bundesamt für Naturschutz Germany (Verantwortungsarten)) FFH-appendix IV Rote Liste Rote Liste (FFH-Anhang IV) BNatSchG IUCN Red List Deutschland Hessen BfN MT strictly protected specially and strictly Least concern endangered critically none (streng geschützt) protected (besonders endangered und streng geschützt) NT strictly protected specially and strictly Least concern near threatened endangered high (streng geschützt) protected (besonders (declining) und streng geschützt) CN not listed specially protected Least concern Least concern Least concern none (besonders geschützt) AN not listed specially protected Least concern Least concern Least concern high (besonders geschützt) 2 Methods 2.1 Investigation area Until 2010 in Malapertus limestone was mined. In 2012 the area was taken over by Heidelberger Sand und Kies, who started recultivation and renaturation. The quarry is 93 ha in size. As part of the renaturation one third of the area was reserved for nature and species conservation. The other two thirds
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