Effects of pool size and isolation on amphibian communities

An investigation of the presence of amphibians was carried out in 38 old and 39 recently constructed pools. In order to assess possible effects of pool size and isolation on the number of species, characteristics of the pools and the surrounding landscape were analysed by means of (stepwise) multiple regression analysis. In all analyses we corrected for habitat variables concerning the pool. Significant effects of pool size were found for old pools only. In both old and new pools species number turned out to be positively influenced by the vicinity of a wood. Woodland is considered here as an element increasing the connectivity of a landscape and as a part of the land habitat of amphibians. Pool age was the best predictor of species number in the new pools. The three most abundant species displayed differences in colonization rate. These differences turned out to be related to their abundance.