Crédit: Romain CRIOU

Romain CRIOU, biologist of the research department in environment ALTHIS, based in Morbihan near Ploërmel, is in charge of the project and the referent of the Joint Council for the follow-up of the population of pelodytids punctuated in the Moidrey Cove.

The short period of breeding of these amphibians is the only convenient period to have an optimal observation of the populations. Also, since February 23,2006, 11 observations were carried out over the site during the day and also during the night, systematically in order to obtain a maximum of data.

The purpose of the prospection of the ground during the day was to locate and count the layings on the site of study. Other parameters like the rate of oxygenation of the ponds, the rate of sunning, slope of the ponds, the pH, the maximum depth of the lakes were noted.

Thus, by comparison with the survey already carried out in 2002 by the CPIE of Cotentin, the current follow-up makes it possible to put forward some interesting results :

- the number of layings listed in 2006 is almost 4 times superior with the layings observed in 2002; that is to say a total of 191 listed layings. A female in age to reproduce carrying out only one laying per annum (except exceptional conditions at the end of the summer), we can thus consider the population adult of females at this number of layings.

- 92% of the layings were deposited on the new modifications (ponds and criches) and none in the wet meadows. This confirms the pioneer behavior of the males pelodytids which actually colonized these new spaces.

See the works

In January 2005 began the first works related to the restoration of the Mont-Saint-Michel maritime character. The achievement of the ponds for the punctuated pelodytids is the first step of the environmental program fixed in 2003 during the authorizations of the works.

Works, whose surveys were managed by grouping ANTEA /BRLi/ HYL, were carried out by grouping GTM / ROL NORMANDIE.

The deadline was fixed at February 28, 2005 in order to take into account the period of breeding of the pelodytid which begins towards the mid-February until mid-April. With the program of this works, the realization of ten ponds, surrounded of stumps and stones providing some shelters (cavities) to the punctuated pelodytids.

It is during winter 2006 that an expertise will be done to determine if the punctuated pelodytids adapted well to their new environment.