Project AMPHIQUARRY: Are abandoned quarries essential refugees to ensure amphibians connectivity??

Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates on the Earth, due in part to habitat destruction and fragmentation. This is the case of abandoned quarries, which cause devastating effects in the landscape. However, due to the impermeability of the substrate, quarries could function as opportunities to ensure the connectivity of amphibian populations, but this is little studied. This knowledge could be essential to better understand the biology of the species, to manage future exploitations and to implement appropriate compensation measures after material extraction. Therefore, our study will focus on the role of abandoned quarries as important nodes in the landscape connectivity of amphibians. To achieve this goal, we will characterize water bodies at different temporal moments and geolocate individuals to identifiy movements between ponds. We will also sample water bodies in a surrounding buffer area of 3km from the quarries to infer potential breeding sites and understand possible migration rutes. Finally, we will use GIS to model connectivity in the quarries and surroundings and propose efficient conservation measures to preserve amphibians in the long-term.