Work

Alien predators and amphibian declines: review of two decades of science and the transition to conservation

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: . Over the last two decades, numerous studies have shown that alien predators contributed to amphibian population declines. Both experimental studies and correlative field surveys implicated alien species of fish, bullfrogs and crayfish as major contributors to amphibian population decline, and in some instances local extinction. Additional studies have demonstrated that alien predators also caused long‐term changes in aquatic communities. Recent studies have examined the feasibility of removing alien predators, and provide some evidence that amphibian populations can recover. Applying information gained from past studies to the recovery of amphibian populations will be the challenge of future studies. International, national and local policies that regulate alien predators should be based largely on the body of scientific evidence already in the literature. Scientists need to be more involved with policy‐makers to most effectively change laws that regulate alien predators.

Source: Diversity and Distributions

DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-4642.2003.00013.x

Authors: Lee B. Kats, Ryan P. Ferrer

Institution: Pepperdine University

Language: English

Topic: Amphibian and Reptile Biology

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Park Service