Germany – Environmental services – „Erfassung des Einflusses invasiver Prädatorenarten auf die Vorkommen von besonders und streng geschützten Amphibienarten im Drömling und Osten Sachsen-Anhalts“

The subject of the procedure is the recording of the impact of invasive predator species on the occurrences of particularly and strictly protected amphibian species in the Drömling and in the eastern part of Saxony-Anhalt. In 2027, the entire amphibian inventory as well as invasive predators present at the breeding sites, particularly raccoon and mink, are to be recorded. For occurrences of species listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive, the conservation statuses are also to be assessed. The investigation area, which covers approximately 1,073.54 km² or 8.43 map sheets, is divided into four spatial lots; bids can be made separately for each lot. As many suitable waters as possible are to be investigated systematically in each lot; waters with high potential for species listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive have priority. At least three inspections must be carried out per map sheet. If a map sheet is fully contained, each inspection comprises four contiguous field days, each with eight surveying hours, thus a total of twelve full field days, regardless of the number of waters. At least 25 waters per map sheet are to be distributed as evenly as possible across its quadrants. If suitable waters are lacking, waters in an adjacent map sheet of the same lot can be included. The recordings take place between mid-March or early April and mid-May 2027. The start, which is to be coordinated with the contracting authority, is based on the mating season of the common frog and the pool frog. There must be 14 to 21 days between the inspections of a quadrant. Surveying is carried out partially in the twilight or at night and only in suitable weather conditions. The usual methods such as egg search, listening, visual observations, night-time spotlighting, larva search and, if necessary, trap nets are to be used. Amphibian findings are to be documented with species, number and developmental stage. Additionally, searches for raccoon, mink and other invasive predators are to be conducted. Positive findings and predation events are to be documented in detail, and crane observations are to be documented precisely. Due to the short population maxima of individual species, it may be necessary to work with parallel surveyors. One processor may process at most two complete map sheets; at most two main processors are permitted per map sheet. Each quadrant must be surveyed by the same person at all three dates. The offered personnel is binding; a replacement requires a valid reason, the prior approval of the contracting authority and a replacement person of at least equal value. The results are to be recorded in a MultiBaseCS database according to the LAU specifications. Positive and negative findings of amphibians as well as raccoon findings or corresponding negative findings are to be documented. The data sets are to be fundamentally linked with unambiguously designated location geometries of the investigation waters. The conservation statuses of the occurrences of species listed in Annexes II and IV are to be assessed according to BfN and BLAK (2017) and recorded in tabular form. A written final report is not required. By 30 October 2027, the MultiBaseCS database, a shape file of all investigation waters, the tabular assessments of the conservation statuses and a photo documentation with at least five informative photos per water are to be submitted on a physical data carrier. All persons responsible for the field survey must participate in the central initial consultation by mid-March. From March to September 2027, the contracting authority is to be informed by email on the last working day of each month about the progress, further planning and problems. GIS and map bases, assessment schemes, templates and specifications for data entry are provided.