Are wetland regulations cost effective for species protection? A case study of amphibian metapopulations

• DOI: 10.1890/08-2209.1
• Publication Date: 2010-04-09T20:48:14Z
• Authors: Dana Marie Bauer; Peter W. C. Paton; Stephen K. Swallow
• Keywords: Metapopulation

Recent declines in amphibian populations have raised concern among conservation biologists, with habitat loss and degradation due to human activities the leading causes. The most common policies used protect of pond‐breeding amphibians are wetland regulations that safeguard itself. However, many spend much their adult lives foraging over‐wintering upland habitats exist as metapopulations dispersal ponds. With no consideration lands matrix, may be ineffective at protecting or other species disperse across landscape. This paper examined adequacy cost effectiveness alternative corresponding land use patterns on long‐term persistence exurban landscapes. We computer simulations compare outcomes buffer broader landscape‐wide a variety landscape scenarios, we conducted sensitivity analyses model's parameters order generalize our results species. Results showed that, majority human‐dominated landscapes, some amount matrix protection is necessary for persistence. landscapes extremely low‐intensity (e.g., low‐density residential housing) high pond density, all required. It not always more effective core over practice. Conservation costs result from forgone residential, commercial, agricultural can vary substantially but increase nonlinear manner regardless zoning. There appears threshold around an average patch occupancy level 80%, after which opportunity rise dramatically.