ARG UK

Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting 2010 Proceedings of Conference, 30 January 2010, Hinckley Peter Leach, Natalie Walker and John Baker.

Favourable Conservation Status: A Useful Concept for Herpetofauna Conservation? Tony Gent, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, www.arc-trust.org The term conservation status originates from the Habitats Directive 1992 (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna). Conservation status is defined as the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the longterm distribution and abundance of its populations within the territories of signatory states. The Habitats Directive also contains provisions for monitoring, or comparing status with target levels. Article 11 of the Directive informs that Member states shall undertake surveillance of the conservation status of the natural habitats and species referred to in Article 2 with particular regard to priority natural habitat types and priority species (Article 2 refers to annexed species and biodiversity generally). The Directive also implies that monitoring should take the form of progress towards favourable conservation status (FCS). To measure this progress it is necessary to define targets/baseline data and metrics (the data you need to collect). Under the Habitats Directive (Article 1), conservation status is regarded as ‘favourable’ when: population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, and the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long-term basis. These parameters have been incorporated into setting targets within the Species Action Plans for rare herps. The reporting requirements of the Habitats Directive provide a useful basis for setting a national monitoring agenda. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is currently involved in FCS-related projects in England, Scotland and Wales, to determine the range and likely range of great crested newts, using existing records and habitat information to measure status. ‘Favourable Conservation Status’ can offer a valuable framework for herp conservation. Using an FCS approach we should aim to: measure and describe current status and how it is changing set direction and articulate goals (the more measurable these are, the more useful) justify rationale improve data quality and availability develop new approaches/partnerships direct and progress conservation action.

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The Peak Park’s Vision Project – A Prototype for Landscape-scale Conservation Rebekah Newman, Peak District National Park Authority, [email protected] Chris Monk, Derbyshire Amphibian and Reptile Group, [email protected] Following the production of the Peak District Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in 2001, it became apparent that there was a need for a whole landscape-scale approach to biodiversity issues as well as a habitat and species plan. The resulting Vision for Wildlife project set out to provide targeted multi-habitat conservation, restoration and creation exemplified by the work undertaken in a particular part of the White Peak Natural Area, typified by narrow, steep-sided Dales and a high, Carboniferous limestone plateau. Because of the lack of surface water, dew ponds have long been a feature of this landscape. Created by farmers to provide water for livestock, these clay (and later concrete) lined ponds were once numerous. The advent of mains water has meant that many became disused with perhaps 60% being lost since the 1960s putting at risk much of the associated wildlife, including amphibians. The Vision project has mapped existing and former pond sites to develop restoration targets aimed at linking up and extending the pond network within the landscape. Subsequent practical work has included de-silting, vegetation removal, fencing, restoring ponds that had little water remaining and re-creating ponds on the sites of old dew ponds that had been dry for many years. Some ponds have been re-lined with clay and stone setts, whilst concrete ponds have been either repaired with builder’s mastic or completely re-lined with a fibreglass and resin mix. The latter is an industrial method that, together with the contractor, we have adapted for the countryside location. In total the project has carried out conservation works on 18 ponds, restored another 48 and re-created 62. Contractors re-lining a concrete dew pond using a fibreglass/resin method (Peak District National Park Authority)

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Annual surveys by members of the Derbyshire Amphibian and Reptile Group have helped to target work designed to extend and link great crested newt populations, which in turn has increased knowledge of the distribution of newts in the Peak Park and resulted in greater landowner and public engagement with the project. Over 600 ponds have been surveyed which, with other records since 2001, have resulted in a total of 170 ponds in the White Peak Natural Area with great crested newt records, 72 of which are ponds where management, restoration or re-creation works have been carried out by the Vision Project. The work has also shown that the targeted, landscape-scale approach of extending and linking existing populations can benefit protected species, with more than 50% of new ponds colonised by great crested newt within 18 months.

A re-created clay and stone sett dew pond, White Peak (Peak District National Park Authority)

The project has been funded by the SITA Trust, Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, Natural England and the Peak District National Park Authority.

What’s That Snake? Nigel Hand, Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Team, www.herefordhart.org Amongst the general public there is fear and a lack of understanding of snakes. In 2008 Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Team and Herefordshire Nature Trust jointly launched a two-year education project focusing on Herefordshire’s reptiles. The partnership was awarded £50,000 from Heritage Lottery and funding from the Malvern Hills and Wye Valley Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The project has produced two leaflets: A Guide to Herefordshire’s Reptiles includes natural history information and a recording card; Reptile Habitat Management is an information leaflet aimed at landowners. The programme has also included field work. Fifty-seven people were trained in reptile survey. Most of these (only an 11% drop-out rate) went on to carry out surveys on eight sites in Haugh Wood, eight sites in the Wye Valley and nine sites on the Malvern Hills. Surveyors worked in pairs and the project coordinator, Nigel Hand, worked with them in the field to assist and encourage. A few surveyors tended to focus solely on searching under refuge objects, neglecting

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visual surveys of other reptile habitat, which is critical for adders, which tended not to use refuges. Surveyors’ over reliance on refuges did improve with advice and practice. Interested volunteers not only carried out reptile surveys, but have also, effectively, become ‘adder wardens’ for local sites. It is planned to extend surveys to additional areas in 2010. The project has a large educational component. Curriculum based school packs for Key Stages 1 and 2 have been produced and distributed free to 120 local primary schools. These cover science, design and technology, art, numeracy, geography and literacy. The project officer makes school visits, taking along live animals, which is particularly effective in engaging children. The project includes a programme of guided walks for school and community groups and professionals, such as FWAG advisors. A project road show has taken reptile conservation issues to game fairs, National Trust open days and the Three Counties Show, where over 2,000 people visited the stand. Nigel finished with a quote from the Senegalese environmentalist Baba Dioum: In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.

Nigel Hand

A Standardised Way of Determining and Recording Slow-Worm Size and Sex Classes Nick Smith, Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group, [email protected] Assumptions about the relationship between size, sex and age of slow-worms have proved to be unreliable. There is a need for an age and sex determining scheme that is readily understood and applied by workers in this field. Such a scheme should be easily communicated, consistent and clearly related to the biology of the species. Body size measurements were taken from approximately 5,200 slow-worms, with complete tails, from southern England. Measurements of relative tail length and the size of the smallest breeding females (as determined by snout/vent length [SVL]) have provided clues to the onset of adulthood, allowing all adult males and females to be reliably sexed as long as they are accurately measured. This allows animals to be assigned to one of the following categories: New born – from birth (approximately late August onwards) to first hibernation. Sub-adult (juvenile or immature) – from first spring to 129 mm SVL. Adult male and female – animals measuring 130 mm SVL, or more, which should be assignable to sex. Where it has been possible to classify slow-worms by age and sex, there have been some results which suggest that apparent sex ratios of slow-worm populations may vary with location. For example, work in southern Europe has found that greater proportions of populations were male at higher altitudes. Apparent sex ratio also changes over the course of a season, presumably due to differences in thermoregulatory behaviour between male and female slow-worms; there is a bias towards males 4

in the spring, which shifts to females in the late summer and autumn, as shown by observations made from a population of approximately 1,200 slow-worms at Morn Hill, Winchester.

Proportions of slow-worm sex/size classes by month at Morn Hill near Winchester, 1999.

Possibilities for future work include classification by length/weight ratio and the application of this methodology to other species. References Blosat, B. (1997). Morphometrische und ökologische Feldstudien an reptilien im Bergischen Land (Nordrhein-Westfalen) - 1 Blindschleiche Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758. Salamandra 33, 161174. Günther, R. and Völkl, W. (1996). Blindschleiche - Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758. In Die Reptilien und Amphibien Deutschland. Jena: Fischer. Capula, M., Luiselli, L. and Capanna, E. (1997). The blue-spotted morph of the slow worm Anguis fragilis: colour polymorphism and predation risks. Italian Journal of Zoology 64, 147-153. Platenberg, R. and Langton, T. (1996). Slow-worms in Kent: estimates of population density and post-translocation monitoring. Reptile survey methods: proceedings of a seminar held on 7 November 1995 at the Zoological Society of London's meeting rooms, Regent's Park, London; Zoological Society of London. London: English Nature, 61-70. (Foster, J. and Gent, A., editors).

Economies of Scale: Designing Reptile Survey Protocols for the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) David Sewell, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, [email protected] The first of two years of a study to investigate reptile survey protocols has been completed. Surveys have been carried out at 29 sites – but more are needed to make the desired total of 50. The survey involves six visits, one per month from March to September, excluding August. ‘Tins’ or roofing felt were used as refuges.

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Surveys in 2009 were carried out by surveyors with varied levels of previous experience. The focus has been on widespread species, but some rare reptiles have also been included from some sites. Slow-worms have been found on all sites surveyed. July was a quiet time for legged lizards, with no sand lizards and very few common lizards found in this month. The surveys in 2009 were biased towards southern England and heathland sites. More sites are needed, particularly non-heathland sites. Sites can be up to one km2.

What’s Ailing Amphibians? An Update on Amphibian Disease Jim Foster, Natural England, [email protected] The last few years have seen a major increase in research on amphibian disease, alongside concerns about its conservation implications. England’s first national amphibian disease initiative, the Frog Mortality Project, was set up by Froglife (now Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) and the Institute of Zoology. This was a response to mass mortalities of common frogs, mainly reported from gardens, in the late 1980s. Research shows that the majority of those mortalities were most likely due to ranavirus infection; these outbreaks continue each summer in southeast England. According to some recent studies, and contrary to evidence from ranaviruses elsewhere, it seems that infection could lead to long-term declines in common frog populations, with repeated mass mortalities in some areas resulting in up to 80% loss. Population trends, however, differ between sites with suggestions that adaptation to ranavirus and assortative mating may give a degree of protection. Most international concern focuses on one particular disease, amphibian chytridiomycosis. It occurs on all continents except Antarctica and in some countries it has apparently caused massive declines and possibly some extinctions. The fungus causing this disease was detected a few years ago in England, and several projects are now investigating its status and impact in the UK. In 2008 volunteers were recruited at the Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting to assist in a national screening project, which found chytrid was present at 16% of sites sampled and found in all native species except the great crested newt. A study in Central America was able to accurately predict the southward spread of chytrid, resulting in mass mortalities, but elsewhere reactions to the disease have been more variable with some animals becoming carriers but exhibiting no symptoms. It is not known whether chytrid is causing mortality or any other effects in the UK. Much more research is necessary and several projects focusing on chytrid in the UK have recently started. Further reading Amphibian disease precautions: A guide for UK fieldworkers. ARG UK Advice Note 4. www.argukjb.org.uk/Downloads/ARGUKAdviceNote4.pdf Cunningham, A.A. and Minting, P. (2009). National survey of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in UK amphibians, 2008. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London.

Influences on the Capture of Great Crested Newts in Bottle-traps Ros Hughes, Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group This study of great crested newt behaviour in a garden pond, along with bottle-trapping results from three field ponds, shows that the microhabitat in which traps are set influences trapping success.

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In the garden pond, traps were placed on a 20 cm deep marginal shelf in spaces between plant baskets. Influences of the following variables were assessed: light intensity; extent of open water beside the trap; extent of plant-free water in front of the trap; quantity of egg-substrate leaves and height of the trap above the substrate. Newt behaviour and capture were recorded by video (which required artificial illumination, 5 lux measured 25 cm above the recorded substrate), trapping and torchlight counts. 88% of newts in the open water of the video-recorded area were males, using the space as a display area. Of 131 entering the funnel of a trap, 79% were male. Rather than passing through the neck into the trap most funnel entrants retreated (96% of the males and 57% of the females). All captures, 12 females and four males, were in the traps closer to vegetation (within 20 cm). The artificial lighting caused a fivefold reduction in the male catch but that of females was unaffected. In the aquatic phase, newts have a lateral-line system (Stebbins and Cohen, 1996). It is possible that newts are attracted into the funnels of bottle-traps by the ‘reflections’ of their own movements in the water, or the presence of active captives. Newts showed a preference for being within 20 cm of plants, both with and without artificial lighting. Both sexes were equally susceptible to capture in spaces between plants only 22 cm wide. Newts swimming in front of trap entrances within an estimated range of 50 cm, were vulnerable to capture. Female distribution and capture correlated with the amount of eggsubstrate material available. Catches were related to the level of newt activity in front of the trap rather than the trap height above the substrate. Traps were set in three field ponds in one of four microhabitats: open water; flote grass Glyceria fluitans; lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula and/or brooklime Veronica beccabunga; or among soft rush Juncus effusus tussocks fringing the pond margin. Bottle-traps were set on the substrate facing the pond centre. Those among rushes were between the tussocks, but always with the trap entrance facing into open water linked with the main body of the pond. Spearwort and brooklime were used for egg deposition; no eggs were found on the flote grass. Trapping results were consistent with those from the garden pond. Capture rate was low in open water, with a low proportion of male captives. Capture rates were higher in the low density vegetation, and the proportion of males captured was greater in flote grass and amongst rush tussocks. Table: Trapping results from three field ponds; 89% of traps were ≤ 30 cm deep. Mean Percentage Microhabitat Number of traps catch/trap males

Open water

24

0.5

25

Flote grass

26

1.2

73

Lesser spearwort and/or brooklime Soft rush tussocks

34

1.4

36

20

1.7

71

This research suggests that catches of male great crested newts are much higher in display areas where they may be less vulnerable to predation; among egg substrates, setting traps near the water surface may be advantageous as great crested newts tend to lay eggs close to the surface; ‘visibility’ of trap entrances to swimming newts seeking resources may enhance their chances of 7

capture. It is hoped these suggestions lead to more successful trapping and further understanding of the factors influencing capture. Reference Stebbins, R.C. and Cohen, N.W. (1995). A Natural History of Amphibians. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

NARRS Update John Wilkinson, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, [email protected] The National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme is now into the fourth year of operation and is well on the way to achieving the target of providing data on more than 400 unique, randomly generated, one-km grid squares in its first six years of operation. NARRS covers all amphibian and reptile species and it is hoped that the first six years of results will provide a baseline for amphibian and reptile distribution and numbers, which can be used to inform future surveys and detect differences and trends. John Wilkinson was able to give: a three-year update on progress with NARRS results of annual surveys combined results ideas on a ‘NARRS Confidence Index’ that can be used to assess the cumulative success of the surveys his views about the future of NARRS Between 2007 and 2009, data were returned from 314 pond surveys. Pond occupancies for the different species remained fairly constant (see Table). The results were fairly consistent with the National Amphibian Survey (Swan and Oldham, 1993), except that pond occupancy by palmate newts was about three times that of the earlier study. Table: Amphibian pond occupancy (percentage)

Year 2007 2008 2009 Cumulative

Common Common frog toad 56 57 61 57

21 41 46 33

Great crested newt 8 11 16 11

Smooth newt

Palmate newt

21 30 31 26

30 26 30 30

Smooth/ palmate newt 8 3 3 5

Other 1 0 1 1

Number of ponds 142 92 101 314

Between 2007 and 2009, data were returned from 219 one-km squares surveyed for reptiles (see Table). Table: Reptile occupancy (percentage) of one-km squares

2007 2008 2009 Cumulative

Common lizard 27 39 38 34

Slow-worm

Grass snake

Adder

Other

21 28 24 24

20 21 14 18

8 8 9 8

0 3 14 4

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Number of squares 103 72 58 219

John introduced a ‘NARRS Confidence Index’ which can be used to assess the cumulative success of the surveys and which can be developed, using factors such as number of survey visits, number of survey squares and methodology. Early work on this suggests that amphibian surveys will probably achieve a high level of confidence but reptile surveys need to be improved. For the next three years of NARRS there are a number of areas where attention should be directed: NARRS coverage should be increased, to include identified areas where little has been done The number of reptile surveys should be increased, towards the target of 400 squares by 2011 Training should continue to be expanded The NARRS website should be updated There should be more detailed reporting back to surveyors Reference Swan, M.J.S. and Oldham, R.S. (1993). Herptile sites. Volume 1: National Amphibian Survey Final Report. English Nature Research Report No. 38. English Nature, Peterborough.

Herp Workers Question Time Questions from conference delegates were put to a panel chaired by Julian Whitehurst (ARG UK). How can you ensure that people attending training days provided by ARGs continue to carry out the required survey activities after training? (Jan Clemons). Suggestions from the panel included recognition that, for some people, attending a training event is a goal in its own its own right; they may attend to learn, but with no intention of carrying out independent survey work. Further, there are several possible barriers preventing survey work. Personal circumstances of trainees may change, they may discover that herps survey work does not appeal after all, or they may not feel sufficiently confident to carry out independent survey. ‘Mentoring’ support may address some of these constraints. Trainees sometimes need support to help them get started independently; this can be provided either by contacting trainees after the course to identify problems and provide encouragement, or by working with them in the field. In Surrey, those training to gain experience to support rare species licence applications are asked to contribute to local survey effort as part of the experience required before licence applications can be supported. How do you solve disturbance to reptile and amphibian habitats on sites used intensively for dog walking? (Dave Page). The panel acknowledged that, although it is difficult to quantify, disturbance from dog walking is significant on some sites. Continual disturbance of ponds by dogs is detrimental to their wildlife value, especially through disturbance of sediments causing turbidity and eutrophication. Small pools are more likely to be susceptible to disturbance impacts than are larger waterbodies. It was recognised that dog-walkers are significant users of wildlife sites and potentially a powerful lobby group. A pragmatic solution was to strategically plan the location of new ponds and public access routes. Ponds located in areas of high public access may have to become ‘sacrificed’, absorbing the impacts of dog disturbance, while new ponds should be located in less accessible areas. The use of local byelaws was discussed, for example requesting that dogs be kept on leads during the nesting season, to reduce disturbance of ground nesting birds, which may command greater sympathy from dog-walkers than do ponds. 9

Would a test (similar to the NPTC chainsaw tests) be a better requirement in support of a great crested newt survey licence than the current system of referees? (Mike Philips) It was thought that the current system was actually quite efficient. Natural England does not want to make the process any more difficult or expensive for applicants, for example by requiring them to take a training course. For a mitigation licence, however, a certain level of ability and experience is desirable. Natural England is currently revising its licensing procedures and is considering implementing a class licence, which would be longstanding, rather than the current system of annual renewal. Natural England is also improving reporting mechanisms, to make the process more streamlined. What advice should be given to the public when they have accidentally disturbed hibernating animals, for example, during garden works? (Jim Grundy) It was considered acceptable to simply release animals after disturbance, somewhere adequately sheltered, where they will not be disturbed again. This advice does not apply in the case of planned development works. How should great crested newt surveyors deal with ponds immediately adjacent to a survey area, but to which access has not been permitted? (Dave Watson) For development licences to be awarded, survey data are needed. Every effort should be made to gain access to ponds that could support amphibian species. Survey data from ponds on land adjacent to restricted areas may be helpful. The alternative is to carry out 60 nights of pitfall trapping, under licence, to provide information based on terrestrial movements. Should bottle-traps have air holes, or not? It was agreed that bottle traps should allow some access to air, either a pocket in a submerged trap or by providing access to the water's surface. It was also recognised that the design of bottle traps was a contentious issue. Several field workers had developed variations. Field workers advocating a particular variation were encouraged to carry out trials, testing different designs, as is currently being done by Brian Banks and Barry Kemp, testing traps with an ‘escape window’ intended to reduce mortalities of non-target species. Alan Shepherd presented a design comprising a stack of several bottles, to create a trap spanning the water column, with funnels inserted into the side at various heights.

How Green Infrastructure Can Work for Herps Paul Pearce, Kent Wildlife Trust, [email protected] The term ‘green infrastructure’ is increasingly popular amongst planners and policy makers, but there is a poor understanding of what it is and how it might benefit herps. Green space is generally felt to be good for health and is becoming a planning requirement. There are many existing examples of green space within the built environment, including parks, playing fields, allotments, roadside verges etc., but these need to be connected into a multi-functional network. Two examples are given, from Kent, where green infrastructure has been incorporated into development projects: Gravesham in Kent is a large urban area with few apparent biodiversity opportunities. It was, however, possible to identify existing green areas, develop connections between them and use this to inform the Local Development Framework. Ashford is a growth town, midway between London and Dover, subject to a great deal of development. There are local records of great crested newt, common lizard, slow-worm and

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grass snake. Sensitive development has included wildlife corridors linking to existing sites and the inclusion of hedgerows and green verges. Green infrastructure projects are already benefiting herps, by incorporation of green verge reserves and allotment management plans taking account of wildlife. There are, however, a number of factors that limit the benefit herps might derive from green infrastructure: Resources. Insufficient skills and understanding amongst local authority staff and developers. The prevailing aesthetic (i.e. the view that parks should be tidy). There are a number of things that can be done by herp workers to redress these constraints: Provide training or skills for species monitoring. Raise awareness. Develop case studies (e.g. SUDS projects). Contribute to the design of green spaces of the future.

Pond Management Jeremy Biggs, Pond Conservation, www.pondconservation.org.uk This presentation was concerned with the issue of how to manage ponds to benefit wildlife, without causing harm. Knowledge of the species present in a pond is useful when considering management, but full species lists are rarely available. In the absence of this information, some general guidelines may be helpful. The Countryside Survey has established that 80% of ponds are either in ‘poor’, or ‘very poor’ condition and pond quality has declined in recent years, as indicated by the decrease in aquatic plant diversity between 1996 and 2007. Pond Conservation’s response to the deterioration of pond stock is the Million Ponds Project, which focuses on the creation of new, high quality ponds. Pond management is, nevertheless, still important, within a multi-faceted response to the problem of poor, and declining, pond quality.

Central pond Otmoor, one of few sites where effects of management have been studied (Pond Conservation)

There are few documented studies of pond management. One case study is that of Central Pond, Otmoor, Oxfordshire. Silt and plant material was scraped from the pond during a dry summer. The main impacts were on the rarest species. Frogbit disappeared from the site and Nuttall’s pondweed (an invasive non-native) colonised. Enochrus isotae (a Red Data Book water beetle) declined. No benefits were observed.

Ponds support many species of conservation interest. Over 80 BAP plant and animal species can be found in ponds, as can at least three times this number of Red Data Book and nationally scarce species. One of the reasons that ponds support so many species is that they are a diverse habitat within a landscape. The Cole landscape study (Williams et al., 2003) showed that ponds supported more plant and invertebrate species than other freshwater habitats. 20% of species 11

occurred in only one pond; if management were to remove one of these species from its singlepond habitat, then it may disappear from the local area. Hence, ponds are potentially sensitive to disturbance and mechanical management measures. Management, however, has been a traditional activity for some ponds and in some situations it is essential. To minimise risks of harm, the following guidelines are offered: 1. Consider the pond within a landscape context Within an area it is beneficial to maintain a diversity of pond types (e.g. seasonal, wooded, grazed). Management should maintain this diversity and avoid either managing all ponds in the same way or with the same endpoint in mind. 2. Check for the presence of rare or BAP species locally Pond Conservation is developing a species toolkit to make it easier to search the NBN for this information. Also look at the Important Areas for Ponds reports (Wales, southern England, other areas being assessed). 3. Adopt a precautionary approach If managing a pond: Avoid completely eliminating any species already present. Ensure that all the original microhabitats are maintained (e.g. muddy margins, stands of grasses or mosses in very shallow water, areas of overhanging trees). Ensure that some plants are left in their original microhabitats. Do not change the pond’s hydrology (e.g. do not deepen a temporary pond to make it permanent) 4. Consider risks when developing a management plan The risk of harming species is greater in natural or semi-natural landscapes than it is in more anthropogenically impacted landscapes. If a pond is heavily polluted, then it can be beneficial to completely re-excavate the site, with minimal risk of harming any wildlife interest. If the pond already appears healthy or is located in a semi-natural area (heathland, woodland, moorland, unimproved grassland etc.), then more information about species present should be obtained to inform management options. Reference Williams, P., Whitfield, M., Biggs, J., Bray, S., Fox, G. Nicolet, P. and Sear, D. (2003). Comparative biodiversity of rivers, streams, ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in Southern England. Biological Conservation 115, 329-341.

Starting a New ARG – Experience from South Wales Peter Hill, South and West Wales Amphibian and Reptile Group, [email protected] South and West Wales Amphibian and Reptile Group (SWWARG) was formed relatively recently, building on the varied conservation and ecological interests of the founding participants. The group has developed symbiotically – working in partnership with other local interests and sharing information and ideas. With support from ARG UK and the Million Ponds Project, work has included pond and refugia creation, toad patrolling, participation in chytrid swabbing and work on school ponds involving the community. With local authority help, considerable effort has gone in to raising awareness and attracting, and working with, people not previously involved in environmental work. For example, the energy of youth offenders has been put to good use in habitat management projects such as site clearance and creating grass snake egg-laying heaps. More strategically, a conference was organised with Neath Port Talbot Borough Council, aimed at local authority staff involved in 12

either planning, or site management, to raise awareness of amphibians and reptiles within these important target group. As the group has developed and members have acquired a range of skills, a larger geographic area has been covered. It is hoped that this may eventually lead to the formation of splinter groups to maximise recording, involve the public to a greater extent and embark on systematic species monitoring, such as sand lizards on the west coast of Wales and introduced wall lizards in South Wales. Key to further development is the continued sharing of information with like-minded groups and the further recruitment of members with additional skills and interests.

Conservation of the Fire-bellied Toad Hauke Drews, www.lifebombina.de The LIFE-Bombina project is an international initiative carried out by a team working between Denmark, Sweden, Latvia and Northern Germany. Project partners have been working together to preserve and create new areas to sustain the fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina (Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive 1992).

Male fire-bellied toad calling (Christoph Herden)

The fire-bellied toad has an eastern European range. At the northern limits it often occurs in small, isolated populations. It does not colonise ponds as readily as other amphibian species and its preferred habitats are affected by eutrophication, drainage and destruction, reduction in grazing activity (scrubbing up) and, in some cases, the deepening of ponds for fishing. Fire-bellied toads require high quality pond habitats and are associated with pingos, small, glacialrelict ponds found on heavy clay soils, which are typically used as cattle watering ponds within grazed farmland. Female toads lay up to 300 eggs per year in two breeding bouts from late April to early June. Ponds suitable for breeding are between 1 and 1.2 m deep, relatively warm, unpolluted and supporting diverse plant species and structure. Fire-bellied toads avoid breeding in ponds with fish. The conservation problems faced by the fire-bellied toad are common to several countries across the northern edge of its range. A former LIFE project on the fire-bellied toad in Denmark provided useful experience, which would be applicable to other countries, setting the stage for an international project. A LIFE starter project was carried out in 2003 to develop a genetic survey in Germany and Denmark and to integrate the findings into a conservation strategy and an application for full project funding from LIFE.

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The full project budget was approximately €3 million, funding work at 27 sites in four EUmember states between 2004 and 2009. Four conservation methods were used, depending on population status: Habitat Management (> 100 adults) Supportive breeding (< 50-100 adults) Establishing populations at new sites, to mirror the genetic composition of original populations (all populations) Captive breeding (< 20 adults left) Genetic studies, using mitochondrial DNA, were conducted to identify the historical colonisation process, to determine the range of natural genetic diversity and to identify the genetic units within the study area and genetic weakness (inbreeding depression). The results of these studies defined metapopulations and enabled the development of a conservation strategy to maintain and reinforce the genetic variation of the fire-bellied toad. The strategy incorporated multiple elements including habitat restoration, population management, securing sites through land purchase and re-introducing cattle and horse/pony grazing to manage sites. Fire-bellied toad habitat use is complex and relies on availability of a range of different habitat types and successional stages. These include: Spring foraging ponds – typically found adjacent to hibernation areas, used for feeding and maturation of eggs. Breeding ponds – used by calling males and for successful breeding activity. Summer foraging ponds – used for adult and juvenile foraging Terrestrial foraging habitat – used for adult and juvenile foraging Hibernation sites – adjacent to pond habitats.

Restored pingo at Salemer Moor, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany where a complex of pingos was restored by closing ditches and drains (Hauke Drews).

Enhancing existing populations has sometimes meant working in suboptimal conditions, working on small islands, privately owned land, or on small NATURA 2000 sites. Reintroduction gives a wider scope for site selection, including favourable habitats such as grasslands, deciduous forest, ponds and wetlands, often on stateowned land.

A suite of measures was used to re-create wetland habitats. Water was retained on suitable land by disrupting artificial drainage, blocking ditches and drains. Bunds or dams were created at the base of shallow slopes, creating basins holding up to one or two hectares of water.

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Drainage of sites was analysed by removing the topsoil and using test holes to understand the local geology and water flow. Former temporary ponds were indicated by a black humic layer within the soil strata. Material was excavated from these sites to re-create the ponds and to expose aquatic plant seed beds. Restoring marl pit ponds was more problematic as the original pond bases were less obvious. Creating ponds in marl areas was usually achieved by excavating new ponds or unearthing old, filled ones. Clusters of approximately 60 ponds were created, incorporating the different aquatic habitats required by fire-bellied toads, ranging from permanent to temporary ponds. Hibernation sites were created from mounds of rocks and stones, covered with a fleece (150g Polypropylene-Geotextile) Potential summer foraging habitat at Stodthagen, restored by material and topped with a obstructing drainage and allowing areas, including woodland, layer of soil and grass turves. to flood (Hauke Drews) The project included a population management element, rearing tadpoles and toadlets in either protected or fully captive conditions, for release to either reinforce source populations, or to create genetic ‘mirror’ populations on new sites where habitat could be managed, but where natural colonisation was unlikely or impossible. Eggs were transferred to buckets or protected by bags, in place in their breeding ponds, to increase their survival rates. Tadpoles were reared either in cages within ponds or under full captive conditions. The cages were protected Hibernation site created from rocks covered with from birds and invertebrate predators fleece and topped with a layer of soil (Hauke Drews) were removed every week. Toads from two small populations, one from Denmark the other from Germany, were brought into captive breeding programmes. After habitat rectification, offspring have been used to reestablish the original Danish population; the German population is still subject to ongoing releases.

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Ongoing management of restored sites has been achieved by grazing, using Galloway or Highland cattle or konik ponies, at 0.5-0.6 animal units per hectare (one unit per 70-100 m of pond shoreline). The cattle maintain open pond habitats by grazing different elements of the marginal vegetation at different times of the year: January-February – rushes Juncus spp. March – willow Salix sp. Spring /April – reed Phragmites australis. In late summer the cattle enter the water bodies to cool off and at the same time graze bulrushes Typha spp. The project included publicity/raising awareness. A particularly successful event has been the European Bombina Song Contest. Recordings of breeding choruses of toad populations from the different project partner countries were placed on the LIFE-Bombina Project webpage (www.lifebombina.de) and the public was invited to vote for the best choir. This received good media coverage, including television and radio, and has been put forward as a rival to the Eurovision Song Contest. Sweden won the annual competition twice, while Latvia, affected by snow one year, went on to win in the final year of the project, in 2009. The project created 160 ponds but the techniques were replicated in another amphibian conservation campaign, Stiftung Naturschutz: the ‘amphibian initiative’, financed via ELER EU-fund by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Schleswig-Holstein. Combining the efforts of both projects, 1,230 ponds were created/restored covering 194.6 ha. The projects successfully prevented extinction of the fire-bellied toad by re-invigorating populations and enabling the species to re-colonise its former habitats. These projects also benefited other HabitatsDirective-listed amphibians, including great crested newt, common spadefoot toad, natterjack toad, green toad, tree frog and moor frog. One unexpected outcome has been the restoration of former plant communities (water crowfoot, bur-reed and Potamogeton spp.) from the seed banks uncovered during pond restoration. A notable success was the re-activation of a species thought to be extinct in the target areas, lesser water-plantain Baldellia ranunculoides.

Lesser water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) germinated from the seed bank of a restored pond (Hauke Drews)

A key lesson from the project is that land purchase is helpful because it allows greater flexibility of conservation work. Also, restored and newly created sites require ongoing habitat management, in this case funded and supported not only the LIFE Project but also by the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Agriculture. 16

Amphibian pond network with reactivated ponds in natural depressions and newly excavated ponds. Amphibians on site are: smooth newt, great crested newt, fire-bellied toad, common toad, tree frog, common frog, moor frog and edible frog (Heiko Grell).

Further reading Brockmüller, N. and Drews, H. (2009). Management of fire-bellied toad populations in the Baltic region. Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein. www.life-bombina.de/fileadmin/lifebombina/pdf/D_GB_Laienreport_1-28_low.pdf Fog, K., Briggs, L., Drews, H. and Küper, B. (2007). Management of fire-bellied toads in the Baltic region. Genetic report. LIFE04NAT/DE/00028. www.life-bombina.de/fileadmin/lifebombina/pdf/Fog_et_al-LIFE-Bombina-genetic_report.pdf LIFE-Bombina Project. www.life-bombina.de

Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK

This document should be cited as: Leach, P., Walker, N. and Baker, J. (2010). Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting 2010, Proceedings. Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG UK).

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