The exposure and toxicity of pesticides to amphibians

Amphibians and pesticides
1.2. Associations with agricultural habitats
Agricultural areas are often not good habitats for amphibians (e.g. Loman and Lardner 2006, 2009)
although farm ponds are clearly important for breeding amphibians. Temporarily flooded areas of
fields are also important summer habitats for amphibians (Dürr et al. 1999). After leaving permanent
ponds amphibians may move into wet spots in fields. Such movements are particularly frequent after
the metamorphosis of juveniles (Berger et al 2003). However, in this habitat they are particularly
prone to damage due to cultivation activities (Dürr et al. 1999).
The literature search identified 155 papers that appear to associate amphibians from European
countries with agricultural habitats. However, many studies either provide no further detail (e.g. on
habitat uses) or were for pastures or other non arable habitats.
The IUCN red list data (Table 2) provides information on which species are associated with arable
habitats and was therefore used to identify those species for which further information might be the
most useful (Table 3).
Table 3: Summary of IUCN data indicating which species are associated with arable land.
Common name Species Zone(s) Countries
Fire salamander Salamandra salamandra C, S 17
Great crested newt Triturus cristatus N, C, S 17
Marbled newt Triturus marmoratus S 3
Southern Marbled Newt Triturus pygmaeus S 2
Carpathian Newt Lissotriton montandoni C 5
Smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris N, C, S 22
Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus C, S 8
Italian Newt Lissotriton italicus S 1
Bosca's Newt Lissotriton boscai S 2
Danube Crested Newt Triturus dobrogicus C, S 7
Southern Crested Newt Triturus karelinii S 2
Midwife toad Alytes obstetricans C, S 8
European fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina N, C, S 15
Yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata C, S 15
Common toad Bufo bufo N, C, S 24
Natterjack toad Epidalea calamita/Bufo calamita N, C, S 18
European green toad Pseudepidalea viridis/Bufo viridis N, C, S 17
Painted frog Discoglossus pictus S 4
Common tree frog Hyla arborea N, C, S 21
Common spadefoot Pelobates fuscus N, C, S 18
Eastern spadefoot Pelobates syriacus C, S 3
Common frog Rana temporaria N, C, S 21
Moor frog Rana arvalis N, C, S 15
Edible frog Pelophylax esculentus/Rana esculenta N, C, S 21
Marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus/Rana ridibunda N, C, S 18
Pool frog Pelophylax lessonae/Rana lessonae N, C, S 20
Appenine Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina pachypus S 1
Iberian Painted Frog Discoglossus galganoi S 2
Italian Tree Frog Hyla intermedia C, S 2
Perez's Frog Pelophylax perezi/Rana perezi C, S 4
Betic midwife toad, Southern midwife toad Alytes dickhilleni S 1
Iberian Parsley Frog Pelodytes ibericus S 2
Supporting publications 2012:EN-343 15
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