Vol. 20 No. 2 (2025)
Articles

Characterization of suitable breeding sites for Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans Cantor, 1842) (Anura, Bufonidae) using ecological modeling

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  • Seung-Min Park,
  • Seung-Ju Cheon,
  • Choong-Ho Ham,
  • Su-Wan Park,
  • Ha-Cheol Sung
Seung-Min Park
Department of Biological Sciences, Chonnam National University, 61186 Gwangju, Republic of Korea
Seung-Ju Cheon
School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, 61186 Gwangju, Republic of Korea
Choong-Ho Ham
School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, 61186 Gwangju, Republic of Korea
Su-Wan Park
Gwangyang Greenkorea, 57756, Gwangyang, Republic of Korea
Ha-Cheol Sung
Department of Biological Sciences, Chonnam National University, 61186 Gwangju, Republic of Korea
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17271

Published 2025-09-02

Keywords

  • GLM,
  • AIC,
  • conservation management,
  • shoreline depth,
  • barren,
  • water body
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Park, S.-M., Cheon, S.-J., Ham, C.-H., Park, S.-W., & Sung, H.-C. (2025). Characterization of suitable breeding sites for Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans Cantor, 1842) (Anura, Bufonidae) using ecological modeling. Acta Herpetologica, 20(2), 211–219. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17271

Copyright (c) 2025 Seung-Min Park, Seung-Ju Cheon, Choong-Ho Ham, Su-Wan Park, Ha-Cheol Sung

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Efforts to protect amphibian habitats and breeding sites are increasing, with ecological modeling playing a key role in predicting suitable habitats and informing conservation strategies. The Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans) is widely distributed across South Korea and is ideal for establishing comprehensive conservation measures. However, it is increasingly vulnerable to human activities and climate change. In this study, we investigated the breeding site characteristics of B. gargarizans using a generalized linear model (GLM). Field surveys were conducted at 124 reservoirs across three study sites at similar longitudes but different latitudes (Paju, Cheongju, and Gwangyang). To develop 30 candidate GLMs, using model selection based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), 17 variables were collected from field measurements and geographic data. The results identified six factors influencing the suitability of B. gargarizans breeding sites: water temperature, dissolved oxygen, the average water depth 1 m from the shoreline, reservoir area, percentage of barren land within a 1km buffer, and percentage of water within a 1km buffer. The model indicated that areas with a shoreline depth of around 48 cm, low surrounding barren ratios (3%), and more than 3% water bodies are suitable for B. gargarizans breeding. These findings provide valuable insights into the conservation of B. gargarizans and can support the development of effective habitat protection measures.

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