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What Works in Conservation 2017

 | 
William J. Sutherland
, 
Lynn V. Dicks
, 
Nancy Ockendon
, 
et al.

1. AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION

1.9 Threat: Pollution

Full text

1.9.1 Agricultural pollution

Based on the collated evidence, what is the current assessment of the effectiveness of interventions for agricultural pollution?

Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)

● Create walls or barriers to exclude pollutants
● Plant riparian buffer strips
● Reduce pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer use

No evidence found (no assessment)

● Prevent pollution from agricultural lands or sewage treatment facilities entering watercourses

Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)

Create walls or barriers to exclude pollutants

1One controlled study in Mexico found that installing filters across canals to improve water quality and exclude fish increased weight gain in axolotls. Assessment: unknown effectiveness — limited evidence (effectiveness 35%; certainty 29%; harms 0%).
http://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​771

Plant riparian buffer strips

2One replicated, controlled study in the USA found that planting buffer strips along streams did not increase amphibian abundance or numbers of species. Assessment: unknown effectiveness — limited evidence (effectiveness 0%; certainty 30%; harms 0%).
http://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​819

Reduce pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer use

3One study in Taiwan found that halting pesticide use, along with habitat management, increased a population of frogs. Assessment: unknown effectiveness — limited evidence (effectiveness 71%; certainty 26%; harms 0%).
http://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​832

No evidence found (no assessment)

4We have captured no evidence for the following intervention:

  • Prevent pollution from agricultural lands or sewage treatment facilities entering watercourses

1.9.2 Industrial pollution

Based on the collated evidence, what is the current assessment of the effectiveness of interventions for industrial pollution?

Trade-off between benefit and harms

acidification

● Add limestone to water bodies to reduce acidification

No evidence found (no assessment)

● Augment ponds with ground water to reduce acidification

Trade-off between benefit and harms

Add limestone to water bodies to reduce acidification

5Five before-and-after studies, including one controlled, replicated study, in the Netherlands and UK found that adding limestone to ponds resulted in establishment of one of three translocated amphibian populations, a temporary increase in breeding and metamorphosis by natterjack toads and increased egg and larval survival of frogs. One replicated, site comparison study in the UK found that habitat management that included adding limestone to ponds increased natterjack toad populations. However, two before-and-after studies, including one controlled study, in the UK found that adding limestone to ponds resulted in increased numbers of abnormal eggs, high tadpole mortality and pond abandonment. Assessment: trade-offs between benefits and harms (effectiveness 47%; certainty 50%; harms 50%).
http://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​748

No evidence found (no assessment)

6We have captured no evidence for the following intervention:

  • Augment ponds with ground water to reduce acidification

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