Pool frog

The pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) is a species listed in Appendix IV of the FFH directive and thus protected in Europe. Hitherto, however, reliable estimates about actual distribution and red list risk assessment have been impossible for Styria due to insufficient data. In addition, data on population sizes, population systems in the local water frog species complex, as well as the presence of potentially allochthonous and invasive water frog species are lacking. In general, habitats preferred by the pool frog have been drastically declining in recent years, with a likely effect on the presence of pool frogs as well as size and connectivity of their populations. This project aims at characterizing the water frog complex present at 11 localities in Styria by means of morphological, acoustic and genetic methods, complemented by a thorough habitat characterization, to get an idea about the actual presence of the pool frog in Styria and potential threats, and to provide conservation goals and guidelines for conservation management.