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Using connectivity metrics and niche modelling to explore the occurrence of the northern crested newt Triturus cristatus (Amphibia, Caudata) in a traditionally managed landscape

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2010

TIBOR HARTEL ,
SZILÁRD NEMES ,
KINGA ÖLLERER ,
DAN COGĂLNICEANU ,
COSMIN MOGA  and
JAN W. ARNTZEN
TIBOR HARTEL*
Affiliation:
Mihai Eminescu Trust, Cojocarilor 10, 545400 Sighisoara, Romania Babeş-Bolyai University, Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Clinicilor 5–7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Research Department Terrestrial Zoology, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
SZILÁRD NEMES
Affiliation:
Mihai Eminescu Trust, Cojocarilor 10, 545400 Sighisoara, Romania
KINGA ÖLLERER
Affiliation:
Institute of Biology, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independenţei 296, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
DAN COGĂLNICEANU
Affiliation:
Ovidius University Constanta, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Blv. Mamaia 124, Romania
COSMIN MOGA
Affiliation:
Mihai Eminescu Trust, Cojocarilor 10, 545400 Sighisoara, Romania
JAN W. ARNTZEN
Affiliation:
Research Department Terrestrial Zoology, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence: Dr Tibor Hartel Tel/Fax: +40 265 77600 e-mail: asobeka@gmail.com
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Summary

Spatial models are increasingly employed to help understand the distribution of organisms and establish conservation priorities. Classic patch-orientated models may have limited power to accurately predict the organisms' distributions. Pond breeding amphibians are appropriate study organisms because of their complex life cycle, low dispersal and sensitivity to environmental conditions. Here connectivity metrics and niche modelling were used to predict the occurrence of the northern crested newt in a rural landscape from central Romania. Pond-related variables, such as macrophyte cover and the presence of predatory fish, were the most important predictors of newt occurrence, followed by one landscape-related variable (urbanization) and a connectivity metric (nearest neighbouring occupied pond). Most of the landscape and connectivity variables were not adequate predictors, presumably because most of the terrestrial habitats in this traditionally used rural landscape are ecologically optimal for amphibians. Conservation measures for the northern crested newt should promote the preservation of traditional extensive agricultural practices and discourage stocking of ponds with predatory fish.

Keywords

amphibianconservationhabitatmatrixoccurrencepatchRomania
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 195 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2010

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