Frans onderzoek aan geelbuikvuurpad biedt nieuw perpectief voor bescherming

New understandings of habitat management for Bombina variegata The Yellow-Bellied Toad (Bombina variegata) is an endangered amphibian in Western Europe due to destruction and fragmentation of its habitat. Since 2005, measures to restore the toad’s habitat were taken in the department Creuse (Central France). Monitoring of the situation at the locations where such restoration took place revealed the toad’s preferences for its aquatic habitat: successful reproduction was only observed in waters which were free of predators. The most remarkable observations were: i) reappearance of reproduction in a restored water showed they can wait a long time for optimal conditions, ii) mass reproduction of the toad (> 300 adults) in an artificial swimming water could be explained by the coincidental favourable management whereby there was only water between May and September. This resulted in the absence of other reproducing amphibians and carnivorous water insects. The field research allowed for the provision of new guidelines for the management of reproduction habitat for B. variegata. Water bodies for this toad should not be dug before the end of April, and be filled in with sand in October of the same year. There is no need to do this each year because of the large amount of offspring. The implementation of these guidelines in French conservation practices may enhance vulnerable local populations of B. variegate and help the survival of this toad in the long-term.