title: Effectiveness of amphibians as biodiversity surrogates in pond conservation.
abstract: Amphibian decline has led to worldwide conservation efforts, including the identification and designation of sites for their protection. These sites could also play an important role in the conservation of other freshwater taxa. In 89 ponds in Switzerland, we assessed the effectiveness of amphibians as a surrogate for 4 taxonomic groups that occur in the same freshwater ecosystems as amphibians: dragonflies, aquatic beetles, aquatic gastropods, and aquatic plants. The ponds were all of high value for amphibian conservation. Cross-taxon correlations were tested for species richness and conservation value, and Mantel tests were used to investigate community congruence. Species richness, conservation value, and community composition of amphibians were weakly congruent with these measures for the other taxonomic groups. Paired comparisons for the 5 groups considered showed that for each metric, amphibians had the lowest degree of congruence. Our results imply that site designation for amphibian conservation will not necessarily provide protection for freshwater biodiversity as a whole. To provide adequate protection for freshwater species, we recommend other taxonomic groups be considered in addition to amphibians in the prioritization and site designation process.
authors: hepia Geneva Member of the HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 150 route de Presinge, 1254, Jussy-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Christiane
authors: C
authors: Ilg
authors: hepia Geneva Member of the HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 150 route de Presinge, 1254, Jussy-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Beat
authors: B
authors: Oertli
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D007313:Insecta; D061005:Ponds; D013557:Switzerland
keywords: Mantel test; aquatic plants; community congruence; congruencia de comunidad; congruencia entre taxones; conservation value; cross-taxon congruence; habitat prioritization; macroinvertebrados; macroinvertebrates; plantas acuáticas; priorización de hábitat; prueba de Mantel; surrogacy; sustituciones; valor de conservación