A frog's-eye view of the landscape : quantifying connectivity for fragmented amphibian populations

The spatial habitat requirements are studied for two amphibian species: the tree frog ( Hyla arborea ) and the moor frog ( Rana arvalis ). Fragmentation, the destruction of suitable habitat, results in small fragments that are separated by unsuitable habitat or barriers. Metapopulation theory implies that a species can survive on a regional level if local extinctions are compensated for by recolonisations. For nature conservation it is relevant whether species can cope with habitat destruction or have crossed the viability threshold. Connectivity for ground-dwelling species with low dispersal... Mehr ...