PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

The “Consolidation and connectivity of yellow-bellied toad populations in Germany” project, launched in 2011, was one of the first projects within the “species of responsibility” funding priority under the Federal Biological Diversity Programme (BPBV). The sexennial project aimed to conserve and consolidate occurrences of yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata) in their primary and secondary habitats, to create new suitable habitats, to increase connectivity between subpopulations and, in some cases, to reintroduce the species. The focus was set on upgrading and creating structurally diverse and dynamic secondary habitats. To this end, NABU Lower Saxony (Nature Conservation Union Germany) cooperated with eight project partners and numerous other stakeholders in five federal states of Germany. Habitat measures were implemented in 122 of the 130 project areas and populations showed an overall positive trend. During the project, the number of yellow-bellied toad occurrences in the project areas increased from 67 to 80. Analyses of population genetics and infection rates with the chytrid fungus showed a low genetic diversity and a high infestation rate. Cooperation agreements, financial support and a subsequent EU LIFE project continue the conservation efforts for the yellow-bellied toad across a large part of the project areas.