Master’s Thesis: Critical Conservation Insights of Endangered Toad Populations to Inform Bavarian Danube Re-Wilding

As my capstone project for my masters degree in Sustainable Resource Management at the Technical University of Munich, I researched the endangered yellow-bellied toad in Bavaria’s shrinking floodplain forests to deliver conservation insights ahead of major Danube restoration efforts.

Although restoration efforts along the Danube would reinstate natural floodplain dynamics and improve ecosystem function, they could threaten the toad’s survival. Restoring mainstem flow to disconnected wetlands may allow predatory fish to access critical toad breeding habitats, hindering endangered species recovery.

To safeguard against potential conservation setbacks, my research: 

• Identified key natural and human-made breeding ponds.

• Assessed the toad population status in each habitat.

• Evaluated habitat characteristics affecting body condition and reproductive success.

My data revealed that toad health and reproductive success were consistent across natural wetlands and artificial habitats—such as tire ruts and constructed ponds—indicating that both contribute effectively to population optimization. These strategies support seasonal flooding needed for temporary wetland formation, crucial for optimizing toad population growth and survival. 

I concluded that both human interventions and strategic Danube re-wilding are equally crucial for species conservation, and recommended that restoration plans integrate both approaches.