Amphibian protection
Amphibian protection describes measures in the protection of species , the purpose of which is to protect local populations of amphibians (amphibians) from extinction, in extreme cases species from extinction .
Amphibian protection is an independent work area of nature protection , as there are specific hazards for amphibians and related own measures as well as official regulations. Due to their way of life, amphibians are, with a few exceptions, residents of different types of biotopes (bodies of water and habitats on land) and therefore depend on the maintenance of a functioning network of biotopes . In addition, many species are very faithful to their location and generally need large habitats to build up a stable population. For most of the other animal species, however, there are no special protective measures, they are protected across the board through the use of nature-friendly land and the designation of protected biotopes and nature reserves.
Reasons for amphibian protection
Numerous amphibian species around the world are threatened with extinction today. The reasons for this are road traffic, which leads to the death of countless amphibians on their annual migrations between winter quarters, spawning waters and summer quarters ("road death"), the loss of the amphibians' habitats (draining ponds, destruction of the bank vegetation of waters) and intensive agriculture, the chemicals used harm amphibians. Sewage outlets can, as surveys in sewage treatment plants in Germany and Switzerland have shown, act as problematic amphibian traps.
In Australia and South America, the infestation with the chytrid fungus also endangers amphibians and has already eradicated several species. Amphibian populations are also hunted for human consumption ( frogs' legs ) until they are extinct.
In the Federal Republic of Germany , all native amphibian species have been under species protection under the BNatSchG since 1980 , even if their population is not endangered.
Options for amphibian protection
Permanent protective measures
The following measures offer permanent protection:
- Protection of existing habitats from overbuilding (traffic routes, urban sprawl ) and canalization in the form of walking barriers
- Construction of fixed protective devices on roads, these are fences that guide the migrating amphibians to fixed passages under the road (so-called " toad tunnels ")
- Establishment of " substitute spawning waters ", which enable a safe route for the animals.
- Elimination and defusing of death traps in the area of buildings, such as light shafts in front of basement windows and external basement exits. Amphibians that fall into light shafts can no longer escape from them due to the steep, often smooth walls, but the steps of basement exits can also be barriers that are difficult to overcome (regular checks on trapped animals). Light wells can be covered by fine- mesh wire mesh .
- ecologically compatible agriculture
- proper disposal of garbage and toxins
Temporary protective measures
If it is not possible to take permanently installed or permanent protective measures, short-term protective measures are usually taken. This concerns above all the protection of amphibians migrating on roads. This is probably also advisable on residential streets with little traffic. In one study, the suspicion was expressed that amphibians also die when driven over, due to the negative pressure generated by the vehicle passage, if they are missed by the wheels of the car as soon as the speed exceeds about 30 km / h. However, this is questioned by other investigators.
- Toad fences
For example, so-called “toad fences” are built during the main migration period. First, specially shaped metal rods are inserted into the ground at two-step intervals. A plastic tarpaulin is threaded into this, which is about 40 cm high, so that it lies close to the ground at the bottom. Buckets are sunk flush into the floor at regular intervals. The migratory amphibians run along the outside of the fence in search of a passage and fall into the buckets. These amphibian fences are often looked after by volunteers. They empty the buckets early in the morning and at dusk and bring the newts, toads and frogs across the street. The animals are counted in order to obtain an overview of the population (number of animals per species, population fluctuations ).
- Amphibious warning sign
In Germany, putting up the traffic sign “amphibian migration” or “toad migration” near a spawning area during the main migration is intended to reduce the risk of the animals being killed in traffic. This sign with a frog symbol can be installed on road sections with known amphibious migration routes and is used to protect against motorized traffic in particular while the amphibians slowly cross the road . The traffic sign is intended to encourage road users to exercise appropriate caution and appropriate driving. In the GDR, however , this protective measure, also in connection with speed limits, was almost ineffective, which is why the corresponding sections of the route were recently closed to traffic for several days during the nightly amphibian migrations . But this tightened measure was in part hardly practicable and always remained limited in terms of location and time; it was therefore less successful than the permanent protective measures. An amphibious warning sign was first used in Switzerland in 1970.
See also
swell
- Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport (1994): Amphibian Protection. Guide to protective measures on roads. Publication series of the road construction administration . Issue 4.
- Eckhard Jedicke: Amphibians. Ecology, hazard, protection . Verlag Otto Maier, Ravensburg 1990.
- Dieter Glandt: Native amphibians. Determine-Observe-Protect . 2008, 180 pages, AULA-Verlag, ISBN 3891047207 .
- District Office Ravensburg: Amphibian protection. Nature conservation in the Ravensburg district . Volume 2. 1995.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Symbol according to § 39 Paragraph 8 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), here in combination with danger signs according to § 40 StVO as a further danger sign for particularly dangerous situations, traffic sign No. 101-14 (or -24 for left-hand placement) according to Part 2 of the catalog of traffic signs (VzKat), the annex to the general administrative regulation for road traffic regulations (VwV-StVO) in the version of May 22, 2017
- ↑ Dietrich Hummel (2001): Amphibian protection through speed limitation - an aerodynamic study. Nature and Landscape 76 (12): pp. 530–533.
- ^ BR Schmidt, S. Zumbach (2008): Amphibian Road Mortality and How to Prevent It: A Review. In: Mitchell, JC; Jung Brown, RE; Bartolomew, B. (editors): Urban Herpetology. St. Louis, Missouri, pp. 157-167. ISBN 978-0916984793 , doi: 10.5167 / uzh-10142 .
- ^ Andreas Reichelt: Measure for amphibian protection. In: Tele Regional Passau 1 (TRP1). Accessed March 17, 2019 (German).
- ↑ a b Klaus Kabisch: Dictionary of Herpetology. Gustav Fischer, Jena 1990, ISBN 3-334-00307-8 , p. 409.
- ↑ Klaus Kabisch: Dictionary of Herpetology. Gustav Fischer, Jena 1990, ISBN 3-334-00307-8 , p. 39.
