University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Maria Peer
(2020):
Plant phenology as indicator for the beginning of migration of three Central European amphibian species – analysis based on citizen science data.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Zoologie,
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 59.
UB BOKU
obvsg
- Abstract:
- Amphibians are considered to be among most endangered vertebrates and declining worldwide. One of the many reasons for the population decline is the progressive habitat fragmentation by land use, which restricts the seasonal migration of several amphibian species between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Amphibian migrations are influenced and triggered by temperature or rainfall. Similarly, plant phenology can be influenced by temperature. The aim of this study was to find a possible association between phenological phases of selected plant species and the start of amphibian migration, since possible associations would allow the prediction of amphibian migration by phenological events. In this master thesis amphibian migration and plant phenological events based on data recorded in Austria between 2008 to 2018 are compared. Three anuran amphibian species (Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, R. dalmatina), tree species (Aesculus hippocastanum, Betula pendula, Larix decidua, Prunus armeniaca, Salix caprea), one shrub species (Corylus avellana), and one herb (Galanthus nivalis) were studied. A data set of 3751 amphibian sightings originating from the herpetofaunal database of the Natural History Museum Vienna, and from two citizen science projects (naturbeobachtung.at; roadkill) was used; plant phenology data were derived from the citizen science database PhenoWatch. The analysis was carried out using robust regression modelling. The results showed close associations between the phenology of some plant species (Larix decidua, Salix caprea, Prunus armeniaca) and the beginning of migration of Rana temporaria. Flowering of Prunus armeniaca and Salix caprea were particularly suitable as indicators for the beginning of amphibian migration. These findings offer the possibility for persons conducting conservation measures to make local predictions about the beginning of amphibian migration, in a simple way considering plant phenological events.
- Beurteilende(r): Zaller Johann
- 1.Mitwirkender: Heigl Florian
- 2.Mitwirkender: Dörler Daniel