value of traditional troughs as freshwater shelters for amphibian diversity

1. Changes in agricultural activities in the Trubia valley (North Iberia, south Europe), mainly substituting husbandry by rural tourism, are modifying trough function: from cattle watering to abandonment or transformation into decorative elements. In the valley, natural ponds are disappearing by desiccation and are scarce or absent. 2. In the present troughs, constructed by artificial deviation of small streams or fountains, eight amphibian species have been found, representing 57% of the amphibian species recorded in the region. Seven of them were in larval development stages. 3. Moderate management, presence of sediments in the bottom and abundant floating vegetation were identified as the main factors contributing to amphibian species richness. Trough management significantly correlated with species richness and also with the presence and the genetic population variation of the model species Lissotriton helveticus (palmate newt). Most amphibian species cannot develop in excessively cleaned troughs devoid of vegetation and invertebrates. 4. In the absence or decline of natural ponds and other water points, traditional troughs can be considered refuges for amphibians. Traditional management actions such as moderate cleaning and protecting vegetation and bottom sediments from these freshwater points are recommended. Promoting the traditional management of troughs is easy and, together with the protection of natural ponds, can help to prevent the decline of amphibian species. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.