| Title | Landscape-stream interactions and habitat conservation for amphibians. |
| Abstract | Semiaquatic organisms depend on the features of both water bodies and landscapes; the interplay between terrestrial and aquatic systems might influence the semiaquatic communities, determining the scale at which management would be more effective. However, the consequences of such interplay are not frequently quantified, particularly at the community level. We analyzed the distribution of amphibians to evaluate whether the influence of landscape features on freshwater ecosystems can have indirect consequences at both the species and community level. We surveyed 74 streams in northern Italy to obtain data on breeding amphibians, water, and microhabitat features; we also measured features of surrounding landscapes. We used an information-theoretic approach and structural equation models to compare hypotheses on causal relationships between species distribution and variables measured at multiple levels. We also used a constrained redundancy analyses to evaluate causal relationships between multivariate descriptors of habitat features and community composition. Distribution of Salamandra salamandra was related to landscape, hydrological, and water characteristics: salamanders were more frequent in permanent streams with low phosphate concentration within natural landscapes. Water characteristics were dependent on landscape: streams in natural landscapes had less phosphates. Landscape influenced the salamander both directly and indirectly through its influence on phosphates. Community structure was determined by both landscape and water characteristics. Several species were associated with natural landscapes, and with particular water characteristics. Landscape explained a significant proportion of variability of water characteristics; therefore it probably had indirect effects on community. Upland environments play key roles for amphibians, for example, as the habitat of adults, but upland environments also have indirect effects on the aquatic life stages, mediated through their influence on water characteristics. Synergistic effects can magnify the negative consequences of landscape alteration on amphibians; landscape management can be particularly effective, as it can also improve wetland features. |
| Source | Ecological applications 21(4), pp. 1272–1282 |
| Keywords | amphibian conservation; community structure; interaction chain; Lombardynorthern Italy; microhabitat; path analysis; semiaquatic species; spatial scale |
| Journal | Ecological applications |
| Editor | Ecological Society of America,, Tempe, AZ, Stati Uniti d'America |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1890/10-0431.1 |
| Authors | Ficetola F.G., Marziali L., Rossaro B., De Bernardi F., Padoa Schioppa E. |
| Text | 42438 2011 10.1890/10 0431.1 ISI Web of Science WOS 000291535500023 Scopus 2 s2.0 79958786523 amphibian conservation; community structure; interaction chain; Lombardy northern Italy; microhabitat; path analysis; semiaquatic species; spatial scale Landscape stream interactions and habitat conservation for amphibians. Ficetola F.G., Marziali L., Rossaro B., De Bernardi F., Padoa Schioppa E. Univ Milano Bicocca, Dipartimento Sci Ambiente Terr, I 20126 Milan, Italy; Univ Milan, Dipartimento Biol, I 20133 Milan, Italy; CNR IRSA, Water Res Inst, UOS Brugherio, I 20047 Brugherio, MB, Italy Semiaquatic organisms depend on the features of both water bodies and landscapes; the interplay between terrestrial and aquatic systems might influence the semiaquatic communities, determining the scale at which management would be more effective. However, the consequences of such interplay are not frequently quantified, particularly at the community level. We analyzed the distribution of amphibians to evaluate whether the influence of landscape features on freshwater ecosystems can have indirect consequences at both the species and community level. We surveyed 74 streams in northern Italy to obtain data on breeding amphibians, water, and microhabitat features; we also measured features of surrounding landscapes. We used an information theoretic approach and structural equation models to compare hypotheses on causal relationships between species distribution and variables measured at multiple levels. We also used a constrained redundancy analyses to evaluate causal relationships between multivariate descriptors of habitat features and community composition. Distribution of Salamandra salamandra was related to landscape, hydrological, and water characteristics salamanders were more frequent in permanent streams with low phosphate concentration within natural landscapes. Water characteristics were dependent on landscape streams in natural landscapes had less phosphates. Landscape influenced the salamander both directly and indirectly through its influence on phosphates. Community structure was determined by both landscape and water characteristics. Several species were associated with natural landscapes, and with particular water characteristics. Landscape explained a significant proportion of variability of water characteristics; therefore it probably had indirect effects on community. Upland environments play key roles for amphibians, for example, as the habitat of adults, but upland environments also have indirect effects on the aquatic life stages, mediated through their influence on water characteristics. Synergistic effects can magnify the negative consequences of landscape alteration on amphibians; landscape management can be particularly effective, as it can also improve wetland features. 21 4 Published version http //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/10 0431.1/abstract Ecological Applications, 21 4 , 2011, pp. 1272 1282 07/09/2010 Landscape stream interactions and habitat conservation for amphibians Full text Ficetola_et_al_2011_Ecological_Applications.pdf Articolo in rivista Ecological Society of America, 1051 0761 Ecological applications Ecological applications Ecol. appl. Ecological applications laura.marziali MARZIALI LAURA TA.P04.032.003 La risposta delle comunita acquatiche bioindicatori e WFD |
