Restoration of replacement habitat of the two endangered species, Korean Golden Frogs and Narrow-mouthed Toads

Background/Question/Methods

This study was conducted at Seo-gu areas designated to build superblocks, in Incheon metropolitan city of Korea from January 2007 to October 2008. The purpose of this study was to conserve the two endangered amphibian species, the Korean golden frog and the narrow-mouthed toad, as creating the replacement habitats at the different place. Therefore, we analyzed the disperse pressure and the ecological characteristics of small scale habitats to find out their inhabiting environments.

Results/Conclusions

We caught 254 adults and 290 tadpoles for Korean golden frogs and 114 adults and 338 tadpoles for narrow-mouthed toads by ten-time collecting by the direct survey for adults and the indirect survey and direct survey for tadpoles, and moved them to the replacement habitat. We found that the adult narrow-mouthed toads and the adult Korean golden frogs got off the ground between May and October used pools or fields of reeds as spawning grounds. They also have a hibernaculum and feeding place around 500 meters from their habitats. After we created the replacement habitats, we moved two species from original habitat to replacement habitat. The replacement habitat was composed of the similar conditions which they previously inhabited. We released the adult individuals, tadpoles to the site near the cattail community in which live easily for feeding and digging before the metamorphosis and less dangerous from the natural enemies. Monitoring for the two species should be mandatory at least for three years to find out their stable and successful establishment at the new habitat.