Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina pachypus)
The project
The project focuses on the conservation of the Apennine yellow-bellied toad, Bombina pachypus, an amphibian endemic to peninsular Italy and severely threatened by the degradation and disappearance of the small water bodies it uses for breeding.
At the Monti Navegna e Cervia Regional Nature Reserve, the Department of Science of Roma Tre University, Fondazione Bioparco di Roma and Reserve staff developed an integrated in situ and ex situ conservation programme. At the study sites, the main threats were the premature drying of breeding pools and habitat alteration by wild boar and livestock.
Aims
- restore and supply breeding pools to extend their hydroperiod;
- protect breeding sites from disturbance by ungulates;
- rear a proportion of eggs collected in the wild at Bioparco di Roma;
- release young individuals at their source sites and monitor survival, growth and movement;
- develop replicable protocols for recovering small declining populations.
A total of 67 young toads were released between 2014 and 2017. Monitoring through photographic identification of their unique ventral patterns made it possible to assess the outcome of the restocking actions.
Learn more
- Conservation of Apennine yellow-bellied toad – PANORAMA
- Publication in the Roma Tre University repository
- Amphibian research and conservation – AIGZOO
Publications
- de Meis S., Bissattini A.M., Venchi A., Bologna M.A. & Vignoli L. (2022). Feeding ecology of the endangered Apennine Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina pachypus) in central Italy. Canadian Journal of Zoology.
- Mirone A., Giovacchini P., Bologna M.A., Bruno D., Caprotti M., Di Febbraro M., Jamwal P., Monaco A., Ramazzotti F., Vignoli L., Galimberti A. & Loy A. (2024). New eDNA-based insights for the detection of endemic and endangered Apennine yellow-bellied toad and its pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Amphibia-Reptilia.
Gallery
In the media…
Broadcasts, interviews and articles about the conservation of the Apennine yellow-bellied toad.
RAI - Animali in città: Anfibi
RaiPlay - Animali in città, episodio dedicato agli anfibi
Open article ↗
Il progetto di conservazione dell’ululone appenninico
Rietinvetrina - Presentazione del progetto di conservazione
Open article ↗
Il piccolo ululone rischia di estinguersi
Il Punto Quotidiano - Approfondimento sull’ululone appenninico
Open article ↗
Si rinnova il patto a tre per evitare l’estinzione dell’ululone appenninico
Parchi Lazio - Riserva Naturale Regionale Monti Navegna e Cervia
Open article ↗
A Vallecupola il progetto di conservazione dell’ululone appenninico
Frontiera Rieti - Attività di conservazione a Vallecupola
Open article ↗
Riportati in natura 33 esemplari di ululone appenninico
Riserva Naturale Regionale Monti Navegna e Cervia - Prosegue il progetto di conservazione
Open article ↗