- Titel
- Limiting habitat factors of natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita) in the Central German Lignite Mining District
- Zitierfähige Url:
- https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa2-1046156
- Datum der Einreichung
- 21.01.2026
- Datum der Verteidigung
- 24.04.2026
- Abstract (EN)
- Open-cast mining creates important secondary habitats for many pioneer species in Germany. The natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) is a textbook example of such a species, as its primary habitats have largely been lost. In the German lignite mining districts, the coal phase-out and subsequent mine reclamation led to strong declines of important natterjack toad source populations. So far, very few studies on the adaptations to this particular environment are available. Against this background, this dissertation investigates key environmental and habitat characteristics relevant to the viability of natterjack toad populations to inform conservation actions in post-mining landscapes. Based on three years of survey work — conducted in the Central German Mining District near Leipzig — we first assessed the population genetic structure and diverisity of the investigated toad populations. We thereby show that natterjacks regularly hybridize in mining ponds with co-occurring green toads (Bufotes viridis). As a consequence, estimates of inbreeding calculated to inform metapopulation management may be overestimated. Second, we found that natterjack toads reproduce most successfully in specific types of mining ponds whose characteristics contradict the requirements of most other co-occurring amphibian species. The design of ponds should therefore aim to support either pioneer amphibians specifically, or a greater variety of species — but not both. Moreover, we found that ponds with pH values fluctuating around 4 can act as ecological traps for amphibians in lignite mines, as their spawn suffers complete die-offs. Finally, we applied and compared two terrestrial survey methods — wildlife detection dogs and artificial cover boards — to study life stage-specific microhabitat use. Both methods yielded high success rates, though detection dogs were superior for locating juveniles in dense vegetation. We then compared the life stagespecific occupancy dynamics of microhabitats in an unreclaimed and reclaimed breeding mining site. The unreclaimed site provided superior quality of terrestrial microhabitats, as these addressed the requirements of all terrestrial stages year-round. Together, these findings inform the management of metapopulations, breeding ponds, and terrestrial habitats.
- Freie Schlagwörter (EN)
- Epidalea calamita, Lignite mine, restoration, pond-breeding amphibian, mircohabitat
- Klassifikation (DDC)
- 570
- Den akademischen Grad verleihende / prüfende Institution
- Universität Leipzig, Leipzig
- Version / Begutachtungsstatus
- publizierte Version / Verlagsversion
- URN Qucosa
- urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa2-1046156
- Veröffentlichungsdatum Qucosa
- 13.05.2026
- Dokumenttyp
- Dissertation
- Sprache des Dokumentes
- Englisch
- Deutsch
- Lizenz / Rechtehinweis
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0