Species conservation project Common Spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus) in parts of the Münsterland (North Rhine-Westphalia)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) is listed in Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive (i.e. in need of strict protection) and is also listed in the IUCN Red List of ‘threatened species’ for Germany. In North Rhine-Westphalia, which represents the extreme western limit of its range, it is already close to extinction. Moreover, according to the Article 17 Habitat Directive Report (2007), in the Atlantic biogeographical region in Germany, it was assessed as having a ‘poor’ conservation status.

In the past, some 12 occurrences of the spadefoot toad had been identified in the county of Warendorf. All these occurrences were in the Ostmünsterland area, including around the historical floodplain of the River Ems. However, a recent study found evidence of only two of these previous occurrences. Therefore, urgent action was required in order to avoid the species’ extinction.

The reason for the decline of the species is not entirely known, but is thought to be driven by changes in, and the intensification of land-use.

OBJECTIVES

The project’s overall aim was to preserve and improve the remaining spadefoot toad population in Münsterland, in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Specific objectives included:

Carrying out measures to optimise the spawning waters and terrestrial habitats of the spadefood toad;

Improving currently known habitats of the species;

Securing remaining genetic diversity by conservation breeding;

Carrying out resettlement – to ensure the permanent and independent viability of the species;

Carrying out analysis of the current genetic pool, in order to clarify issues of population management; and

Monitoring of these actions.

RESULTS

The project met its main and secondary objectives and in many cases was able to surpass its goals. Through implementation of habitat management and restoration actions, it has contributed to a stabilisation of the population of common spadefoot toad in the project region. This was achieved through habitat improvement and direct species conservation actions in the five project areas, which represented its last known sites in the region. The breeding of the spadefoot toad surpassed original targets - with more than 50 000 individual toads reared. Through networking activities and increased targets at the project sites, more toads than originally foreseen could be released.

The conservation status assessment of the sites shows a very good recovery: monitoring confirmed that populations have stabilised and that numbers of calling and migrating individuals are rising. The most important contribution of the project was the securing of areas and management measures in the project areas. However, isolation of sites and fragmentation is difficult to overcome and therefore showed that careful After-LIFE management would be necessary.

The continuation of the project actions is outlined in its After LIFE conservation plan which was produced at the end of the project. This sets outs for each action, a strategy on how the results achieved can be continued and also outlines a broader strategy on the replication and sustainability of the project objective regarding conservation approaches for the species. All project sites have a long-term nature conservation objective and continue to be managed beyond the project end date by the beneficiary and partners.

The project was relevant for environmental policy issues. It contributed to the various European, national, and federal state biodiversity strategies and focuses on implementation of emergency management measures for a species listed under Annex IV of the Habitats Directive. It contributed with its knowledge and expertise to the further conservation of the species (e.g. through follow-up projects).

The project, therefore, had a considerable demonstration value. The possibilities of rescue breeding of this species were not applied prior to the project in the region. The project established a reputation and considerable know-how in this area. It received frequent enquiries for cooperation from nature conservation organisations and private managers. Also, other LIFE projects benefited from the project’s rearing facilities e.g. the facilities were frequently used as study visit sites by universities and practitioners. Several Bachelor and Master theses were also published during the project. A main deliverable was publication of a book on the common spadefoot toad.

Finally, the knowledge gathered from the successful rearing of the spadefoot toad was transferred and is currently being replicated in the 2016-26 LIFE IPE (Integrated Projects for Environment) project, ‘Atlantic region DE’.

Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).