Amphibian Conservation Biology

Distribution patterns at regional and European scales - Conservation Status

• Regional cartographies in Belgium (Wallonia - Pays de Herve - Bassin de la Vesdre), France (Larzac), and Greece (District de Ioannina)
• Full species distribution coverage in Europe
• Delimitation of hotspots of intra-specific diversity
• Biogeography - Phylogeography

 

Invasive and introduced species

• Impact on natural populations of amphibians
• Ecological modelling of distribution patterns
• Laboratory experiments: Exploring mechanisms

Ecological modelling - Landscape ecology

• Composition and configuration of habitats
• Connectivity
• Multi-scale analysis
• Ecological tresholds
• Global Information Systems
• Management recommendations

 

Behavioural ecology - Demography and population dynamics

• Capture - Mark - Recapture
• Dispersion
• Intra-seasonal habitat change
• Home range
• Optimal foraging

 

Ecotoxicology

• Pollution of agricultural wetlands
• Behavioural biomarkers of pesticides and road de-icers
• Life-history traits

Emerging diseases

• Distribution patterns
• Pathogenicity
• Mesomycetozoan parasites, chytrids (Bd), viruses

 

Target species: Mesotriton alpestris - Triturus cristatus (Directive habitat - II) - Lissotriton helveticus - Triturus marmoratus (Directive Habitat IV) - Rana ridibunda - Rana temporaria