Methodological Approaches in Spatial Ecological Modelling and Their Application in Amphibian Conservation

Conservation biology benefits from the use of spatial ecological models. However, the current state of spatial ecological research, in terms of taxonomy, habitats, and methodologies, particularly for amphibian species, remains to be fully synthesised. This review aimed to describe research trends in spatial ecological modelling techniques used to study amphibian habitat occupancy and connectivity, and their application in conservation. We present an overview of recent publications (2000–2020) that use spatial ecological models in amphibians worldwide, identifying geographic and taxonomic trends. We specifically analysed the research techniques and how the findings fit into the conservation planning process. The Northern Hemisphere is the focus of most scientific developments, with a relatively small representation of Neotropical countries. Out of the roughly 8882 amphibian species known, 161 species (145 anurans and 16 caudates) are addressed in the selected publications. Most articles focused on studying landscapes with natural forest cover and agricultural mosaics. While methodological approaches to estimate occupancy varied in complexity, generalised linear models were the most commonly used method. Despite extensive advances in quantifying habitat connectivity, there are still many opportunities and needs to incorporate functional perspectives on individual movement and gene flow. The main challenge for conservation remains translating theoretical modelling into the practical management of species and landscapes, a change that persists despite the growing number of model results with significant implications.