What Is Missing in Amphibian Decline Research: Insights from Ecological Sensitivity Analysis

Conservation Biology - Tập 16 Số 3 - Trang 728-734 - 2002
Roman Biek1, W. Chris Funk2, Bryce A. Maxell1, L. Scott Mills1
1Wildlife Biology Program, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, U.S.A.
2Organismal Biology and Ecology Program, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, U.S.A.

Tóm tắt

Abstract: Inventory, monitoring, and experimental studies have been the primary approaches for documenting and understanding the problem of amphibian declines. However, little attention has been given to placing human‐caused perturbations affecting one or more life‐history stages in the context of the overall population dynamics of particular species. We used two types of ecological sensitivity analysis to determine which vital rates have the strongest influence on the population dynamics of western toads (   Bufo boreas), red‐legged frogs (  Rana aurora), and common frogs (  Rana temporaria), pond‐breeding amphibians that have declined in all or portions of their ranges. Our results suggest that post‐metamorphic vital rates and highly variable vital rates both have a strong influence on the population dynamics of these species and therefore deserve more research and management attention. Ecological sensitivity analysis should be more widely applied to the issue of amphibian declines in order to identify the most plausible mechanisms of decline and prioritize which life‐history stages should be the focus of research and management efforts. Future experimental studies of perturbations in one or more life‐history stage should attempt to link the magnitude of the perturbation measured with the overall population‐level consequences. Finally, current research, inventory, and monitoring efforts should be supplemented with demographic studies so that quantitative analyses can be applied to a wider range of species and life‐history groups.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Alford R. A., 2000, Global amphibian declines: a problem in applied ecology., Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 31, 133

10.1093/icb/38.6.799

Burgman M. A., 1993, Risk assessment in conservation biology

Caswell H., 2000, Matrix population models: construction, analysis, and interpretation

10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[0619:PARPAT]2.0.CO;2

10.1086/400074

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1972.tb01727.x

10.2307/1565112

10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[0607:EAROMA]2.0.CO;2

Duellman W. E., 1999, Patterns of the distribution of amphibians: a global perspective, 10.56021/9780801861154

10.1890/0012-9658(1998)079[2531:EOTVOS]2.0.CO;2

Hall R. J., 2001, The U.S. National Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative and the role of protected areas., The George Wright FORUM, 18, 14

10.2307/2404977

10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[0654:LHAEPP]2.0.CO;2

10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[0605:EAIPBM]2.0.CO;2

10.1038/35008052

10.1073/pnas.92.24.11049

10.1111/j.1523-1739.1998.97125.x

Mills L. S., 2002, Population viability analysis, 338

10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.98232.x

10.1515/9780691234618

10.2307/3802585

10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[0628:LSSAEV]2.0.CO;2

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Conservation Biology

Tập 16 Số 3

728-734

Thông tin tác giả