Use of GIS for amphibian habitats

monitoring in southern Poland

Presentation by

Michal Belcik

Situation – „we need to protect animals and find their habitats”

Problem – „where can we find them?”

Traditional approach – „go to the field to find them”!

Goal - „start your computer to find them”

Location

Located in the

southern part of

Poland

Area of the forest

district - 22 139 ha

Lots of swamp

forests

Many rare animal

species present

Animals

Materials

Quantum GIS ver.1.7.4

Garmin 62s GPS

Forest Numerical Map layers

Permissions from the Regional

Environmental Directorate

Field equipment

Locating the ponds

Observation

Field work &

information gathering

Mapping

Data analysis

GIS & data analysis

Methods

Methods – locating the ponds

9 sites so far

Ponds were selected based on previous

research

Variety of characteristics

Methods - observation

Observations of adult amphibians

Singing recognition

Regular surveys

Gathering location characteristics

Methods – mapping & data analysis

Marking ponds with the GPS receiver

Displaying the data

Correlation between pond features and

existing data

Significance of factors (site type, size,

proximity to roads, exposition, water

plants, impact from predators)

Cross reference with NATURA2000 data

Initial map of plots

Initial map of plots

Results

Surveying the ponds

First conclusions

First unexpected results

Results

Rana arvalis

32%

Rana

temporaria

2%

Rana ecsulenta

compl.

14%

Bufo bufo

2%

Bombina

bombina

15%

Hyla arborea

17%

Triturus

alprestris

5%

Triturus

vulgaris

5%

Pelobates

fuscus

8%

Estimated percentage ratio of different

amphibian species

Pond location and amphibian

presence in the state of Geneva

Relationship between

the habitat matrix

and species

distribution

Dispersal and

breeding migration of

the amphibians

Yellowstone Lake with its surrounding

48 subwatershed units

Amphibian

occurence and

distribution

Assesment of

habitats

Future research questions:

Correlation between Forest Numerical Map

and habitats

Accuracy of the results

Additional information

Limitations

Influence of other species (mainly European

Pond Turtle Emys Orbicularis)

References

Juszczyk, W. 1974. Amphibians and Reptiles. Warsaw.

PWN

Berger, L. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Poland.

Warsaw. PWN

Ray, N., Lehmann, A. and Joly, P. 2002. Modeling spatial

distribution of amphibian populations: a GIS approach

based on habitatmatrix permeability. Biodiversity and

Conservation 11: 2143-2165.

Palla, D.A. and Peterson, C.R. 2001. Amphibian Diversity,

Distribution,and Habitat Use in the Yellowstone Lake

Basin. 6th Biennial Scientific ConferenceYellowstone

Lake.

Work in progress!