BIC LJUBLJANA STUDENTS HELP IMPROVE TERRESTIAL HABITAT OF RANA ARVALIS

We carried out a volunteer action to remove invasive alien plant species at Rakova jelša in Ljubljana, with the help of second-year students from the Nature Conservation Technician programme at BIC Ljubljana. Together, we removed mainly invasive species of Fallopia, Solidago, Impatiens glandulifera  and Erigeron annuus.

The action took place in an area where we excavated new ponds for Rana arvalis during last winter. Wet meadows are extremely important for amphibians, as they provide shelter and serve as key feeding habitats.

Invasive alien plant species suppress growth of native plant species, reducing plant diversity. This leads to less diverse invertebrate communities, which are the primary food source for amphibians. Maintaining high biodiversity in wet meadows is an important measure for the long-term conservation of amphibian species, including Rana arvalis.

Through this action, we joined the Week Without Invasive Species initiative, organised as part of the LIFE ORNAMENTALIAS project. The students approached the work with great enthusiasm and dedication, and we sincerely thank them for their valuable contribution.

Photo: J. Tarman