Amphibians

Associated Species Action Plans Floating water plantain Great crested newt Associated Habitat action plans Garden ponds Eutrophic urban pools

Four of Britain's six amphibian species . These include the frog, toad and smooth newt, none well recorded in the area to determine their distribution. The other species is the great crested newt which is the subject of a separate plan. A few sightings of the palmate newt, have been reported but to date these are unconfirmed. A wide range of habitats will support frogs and toads. Frogs are the most widespread amphibian and in terms of breeding they tend to be associated with fish-free shallow edged pools. Toads and smooth newts are on the other hand much less abundant in relative terms being restricted in their occurrence to roughly a third of the total number of 1 km grid squares compared with the frog. There are suggestions that all 3 species are much less common than they once were with the toad probably having declined the most. There have been, in recent decades, significant losses in the number of ponds in the area although this may have been counter-balanced by an increase in the number garden ponds in the conurbation providing suitable conditions for frogs and smooth newts but to a much lesser degree for toads. Because toads are more selective than frogs with respect to the choice of breeding pond and possibly more 'site faithful' they are more at risk from pond loss; destruction of a toad breeding site can eliminate the species over a relatively large area.

Threats to amphibians populations can be summarised as loss of habitat, habitat change, inappropriate management, pollution, isolation of populations and other factors. Road mortality is a greater threat to toads which often migrate long distances in large numbers to breeding sites in the spring. Wildfowl or fish to ponds is often problematical for frogs and smooth newts. Disease, especially in garden environments where population densities are high is a special problem for frogs.

Deliberate infilling of ponds to accommodate other land uses such as the construction of new roads, housing estates and factories has been a continuing cause of habitat loss for many decades. More recently the pressure to increase the number of landfill sites has led to the destruction of ponds in old quarries, pits and mine workings.

The loss of terrestrial habitats through development clearly reduces the availability of habitats suitable for foraging and over-wintering. A more subtle impact of habitat loss is the reduction in size of the remaining areas of green space. These smaller 'fragments' are more vulnerable to habitat change and the populations of amphibians being smaller and more isolated are at greater risk of extinction.

3.1 Legal status

There is no special protection afforded to the four commoner species of amphibian. However they are subject to a very limited degree of protection under Section 9(5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This means that the sale, transportation or advertising for sale for these species is prohibited. Consequently catching them or keeping them as pets, or even killing them is not prohibited (subject to the controls relating to animals welfare).

3.2 Management, research and guidance

Generally amphibians benefit from sympathetic management of most semi-improved habitats and quickly take advantage when new opportunities for breeding are available where suitable wetland conditions become established. Fens Pool SSSI is notified partly because of its outstanding assemblage of amphibians and, as a result a programme of pond creation is being implemented at the site. Advisory information on the creation of amphibian friendly ponds is available in various forms. The Herpetofauna Workers Manual produced by Froglife on behalf of Herpetofauna Groups of Britain and Ireland in 1998 provides the best digest of surveying and management best practice.

ACTION	Potential Deliverers		YEARS							Meets Objective No.
	Lead	Partner	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2011
5.1 Policy and legislation
Seek the inclusion of effective site protection and species protection measures in the preparation of Unitary Development Plans and other policy document. Policy documents should address the following pond protection issues: the need to replace breeding ponds where they are lost and to mitigate other impacts take reasonable efforts to translocate amphibia require the creation of water bodies suitable for amphibians where possible	LA	WT, EN								2,3
5.2 Species management and protection
Ensure all water bodies with amphibian assemblages which score of five or more using NCC SSSI Guidelines are considered for SINC designation	LAs	WT, EN, EA								2,3
Actively promote and encourage the creation of new ponds (clusters preferably) and supporting areas of terrestrial habitat suitable for commoner amphibian species.	EN, LA, EA									2,3
5.3 Advisory
Provide a telephone advice service to the general public e.g. Wildlife Hotline	WT									4
Disseminate best practice management and pond creation guidelines. Consider events for site managers and the public	EA, EN, BTCV									4
5.4 Future research and monitoring
Encourage the setting up of an amphibian and reptile group in the Birmingham and Black Country	HC, WT	EN								1,2,3,4
Encourage the public, site managers and others to report amphibian records to EcoRecord e.g. via public questionnaires	ER									1
Target survey effort at amphibian sites recorded pre-1990	LA, WT	EN								1
Determine the status of the palmate newt in the area	HC									1
5.5 Communications and publicity
Promote the creation of amphibian friendly ponds i.e. fish-free in residential gardens and as part of new developments	EA, LA, WT									4
Carry out an awareness campaign e.g. Birmingham Garden Pond Survey	LA, WT									4
Encourage the creation of wildlife ponds in schools	LAs									4
5.6 Links to other action plans
Co-ordinate implementation with plans for the great crested newt, wetland habitats, and garden ponds	HC									1,2,3,4

It is proposed that this action plan is ideally co-ordinated by an Amphibia and Reptile Group. Otherwise it will fall to the several interested individuals to co-ordinate the plan and its annual review. It is suggested that a meeting is held at least once a year of interested persons and organisations to review and discuss progress in implementing the actions. There may be advantages in this being combined a with meeting to review the great crested newt plan. The group or individuals will report progress to the Birmingham and Black Country Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group.

Review will consist of measuring achievement of targets. The group will, with the support of the Steering Group, develop and implement appropriate monitoring methods which will inform the review process.

The Action Plan will be revised and updated in the light of review results and any relevant changes in circumstances and/or additional information which becomes available during the review period.

In line with national guidance, the Steering Group will report to the UK Steering Group.

Biodiversity Action Plan for Birmingham and the Black Country © 2000

Printing of this publication for educational purposes is permitted, provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial gain, and the title of the publication and its date appear. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires specific permission from the Steering Group.