Catasto di stagni e pozze per la tutela degli Anfibi in Oltrepò Pavese

Small and medium-sized wetlands are the election sites for the reproduction of amphibians and are therefore the key to the conservation of these animals. The disappearance of ponds and pools in addition to immediate annihilation of local amphibian populations results in a highly fragmented scenario which limits the ability of recolonization and makes them more susceptible to stochastic extinction events. The purpose of this study was therefore to create a database of wetlands in Oltrepò Pavese, providing, for each of them, the GPS location, characterization and physical environment and the census of amphibians. The field monitoring took place during 2008 and 2010, particularly in the period of maximum activity of amphibians. A total of 248 ponds were therefore tested, of which 194 were actually located: 70 showed strong degradation, 80 were intermediate, and 44 were found to be of great interest as amphibians reproductive sites.