Rote Liste der gefährdeten Amphibien der Schweiz 2005 - Karch

Summary
The revised Red List 2005 replaces the Red List pblished in 1994 (GROSSEN-
BACHER in DUELLI 1994). The Red List criteria and categories proposed by the
IUCN (2001) were used for the Swiss amphibian Red List 2005. The criteria and
categories of the IUCN are easier to understand than the criteria and categories that
were used previously. However, criteria for assigning species to categories are more
stringent than before: abundance must have declined at least by 30% over 10 years
or 3 generations, otherwise a species is not included in the Red List. To classify
species status according to the quantitative criteria of the IUCN, data must be up-todate
and of high quality. Because the criteria and categories of the IUCN are different
from the ones previously used, the old and new Red Lists cannot be compared
directly.
14 (70%) of 20 species and species complexes native to Switzerland are listed as
threatened on the Red List; another species (5%) is near threatened. One species on
the Red List is regionally extinct (RE), nine species are endangered (EN) and four
are vulnerable (VU).
Because of the new criteria used, fewer species are on the new Red List than on the
old one. Nevertheless, all species have declined both in distribution and abundance.
The only exception is the Italian agile frog. Species inhabiting temporary ponds (i.e.
ponds that dry annually or at least every couple of years) are most endangered.
Increasing the density of ponds is a primary goal of amphibian conservation. Most
important is the creation of temporary ponds. A higher pond density would also
increase connectivity among ponds.
12 BUWAL und KARCH: Rote Liste Amphibien 2005