Collection of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) and alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) distribution data in Austria using a new, community-based approach

Abstract

The Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), a black amphibian with yellow spots or stripes, is the best-known salamander species in Europe. Fire Salamanders are endangered because they require small springs or brooks in their habitats and each year some of these bodies of water are destroyed. The Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra) is a small pitch-black amphibian endemic to the European Alps and strictly protected under the EU FFH directive. Their population status and distribution in Austria and Salzburg has not yet been monitored extensively and despite its central role in the ecosystem, existing scientific records are scarce. Using a new, community-based scientific approach on our website www.alpensalamander.eu, we collect and present data about occurrence, population size and distribution of the Fire and the Alpine Salamander in Austria. From the actual data (more than 5 600 records since July 2009) we have already obtained a good overview of the present distribution and data quality. We also collected an oral history of Fire and Alpine Salamander observations in the past 50 years by conducting interviews in the local community. The data are an excellent basis for detailed scientific studies on these remarkable amphibians. With this new and highly interactive approach, science and education are combined to initiate protective measures with the public.