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Threats - peer review: |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181  View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 12 Feb 2007 Folks, I'm doing a top-down assessment of threats to (leading to priorities for action) reptiles and amphibians. Threats relating to population levels and good dispertion is where I think I'm heading. Threats I have listed so far include: Habitat Loss Lack of site management Building & construction Change of land use Arson Other Human Impacts Persecution & collecting Road deaths Disturbance Pollution Predation & competition Predation by Pets Predation by, and competition from introduced species Predation from native species (not addressing this one, clearly). What have I missed ?? and how would people rate the relative degrees of threat in a quantitative manner? Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 12 Feb 2007 Steve, One other possible is disease such as 'Red Leg' in amphibians. I'd imagine that the types of threat can vary from the area, such as urban sites etc. Just a couple of thoughts, Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 12 Feb 2007 Steve, Maybe inappropriate site management might come in as well. This could be because it gives no thought to reps & amps at all as it is being done for some other reason e.g. birds or flora. Or it could be done at the wrong time of year. Or cattle/horse grazing as a mangement tool. I'm sure we've all got horror tales for some of these. Otherwise a good list. Suz |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 12 Feb 2007 You beat me to it Suzi, totally agree it should say 'inappropriate' site management. Else we will have land managers waving it under our noses saying 'it ses 'ear that no site management is the problem, soos we is gonna flatten the 'ole lot' As for rating in a quantative manor, I think a site by site analysis would alter my ratings for each category. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 12 Feb 2007
I feel that red leg disease is a threat locally but the overall picture would be that other diseases would be more of a threat - e.g. chritrid
Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 13 Feb 2007 INAPPROPRIATE MANAGEMANT YES, YES, AND THRICE YES!! 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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lalchitri Senior Member Joined: 06 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 132  View other posts by lalchitri |
Posted: 14 Feb 2007 changing weather patterns? due to the prolonged spell of hot weather last summer, two of my local ponds dried up completely, tadpoles and all. i'm pretty sure one of the sites is not managed (though i suppose thats inappropriate in itself!) Reformed Teetotaller |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 14 Feb 2007 Fair point Lalchitri, I'm not sure if climate change is a good thing or a bad thing for native herps. So many are at the edge of their range here in the UK that global warming may actually help, although changing weather patterns may not. I guess that apart from doing their bit, this one is largely beyond the influence of an ARG. Thanks all for comments. Could people privide a few generic examples of threats? I'm reasonably clued up with impacts to reptiles, but not to amphibians. Any real-life examples of inappropriate management with amphibian impact to hand? Steve Langham - Chairman
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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Waterfrog Member Joined: 13 Feb 2005 No. of posts: 11 View other posts by Waterfrog |
Posted: 14 Feb 2007 Perhaps another threat to amphibian habitats to be considered is the management of water supply - ground water abstraction and lowering of water table can certainly result in ponds drying out.
Julia Julia |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 14 Feb 2007 Steve, Fragmentation of large stable sites Lack or loss of connectivity between sites Garden refuse or garden pond clearance causing introduction of invasive alien plants i.e Japanese Knotweed, Australian Stonecrop. Eutrophication on urban and heavily grazed sites causing a change in vegetation or loss of open sand. Loss of particular important part of site i.e hibernacula or egg laying area, but rest of site looks ok Dave British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
Posted: 15 Feb 2007 [QUOTE=Vicar]global warming may actually help, although changing weather patterns may not. [/QUOTE] Well, if the Gulf Stream slows down as a result, as some have suggested, the UK could actually end up a lot colder. [QUOTE=Vicar] Any real-life examples of inappropriate management with amphibian impact to hand? [/QUOTE] In the 70s, lots of natterjack ponds were deepened (and permanent ponds were constructed) to make breeding sites more permanent, but this encouraged predators (e.g. beetle larvae) and increased competitivity of common toads. |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 15 Feb 2007 In the 70s this was an effort to raise the water table; some natterjacks were trying to spawn in the sea. This is now the well known infamous event when a certain person started digging out the slacks illegally I guess; but it was a frustrating time for such as the BHS Cons Comm then. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 15 Feb 2007 The work on the Natterjack Toad by members of the B.H.S. conservation committee Natterjack sub committee is a perfect example of seeing science in action in conservation. Members included Trevor Beebee, John Buckley, Richard Griffiths,Brian Banks and Jonty Denton together with others. I know that a few mistakes were made but when it was seen that the results that were expected were not obtained experiments and observations were made to correct them and work out the reasons why. This was a learning process and science in action so the optimum shape, depth and orientation of the pond was found, the fact that the Natterjack was usually unable to compete with the Common Toad and the reasons why. The amount or more importantly the lack of surrounding scrub or ground vegetation in the terrestrial habitat to deter the Common Toad. A new type of parasite was even found that infected the tadpoles. All the work resulted in valid scientific papers unlike a lot of conservation publications some of which looks as though the ideas were written on the back of a postage stamp. This all enabled reintroductions and positive management to go ahead with the maximum chance of success. It is a pity that similar work was not carried out with some of the reptiles by such a dedicated team of scientists with a lot of practical experience and open enquiring minds. Dave British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
- Threats - peer review |
