| 1. |
- Almeida, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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Antipredator responses of two anurans towards native and exotic predators
- 2011
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 32:3, s. 341-350
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- When faced with the risk of predation, tadpoles of many amphibian species are known to modify their phenotype. In this work we studied the effect of an exotic species, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), on the phenotype of two species of amphibians with different reproduction habitats: the Iberian painted frog, Discoglossus galganoi, that normally reproduces in temporary water bodies and the common toad, Bufo bufo, that reproduces in permanent water bodies. The responses were compared with the ones shown in the presence of a native predator, dragonfly (Aeshnidae) larvae. Behaviour, growth and morphology of tadpoles were monitored in a factorial experiment with five treatments. Our results showed that only the permanent habitat species altered its behaviour and life-history traits in the presence of P. clarkii; however, this was mediated by chemical cues from consumed conspecifics. Antipredator responses of B. bufo towards the exotic crayfish were similar to the ones towards the native predator, while D. galganoi responded to the dragonfly larvae but not to P. clarkii. This may be the result of infrequent colonization events of temporary habitats by the crayfish. Therefore, the consequences of the introduction of P. clarkii might be more serious for D. galganoi and other species living in temporary habitats. Species breeding in permanent habitats, more prone to having generalized antipredator responses, may be relatively protected against this exotic crayfish although the effectiveness of these responses still needs to be tested.
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| 2. |
- Arnemo, Jon
(författare)
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A comparison of external and internal attachments of radio transmitters on adult crested newts Triturus cristatus
- 2010
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - : Brill. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 31, s. 229-237
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Telemetry studies of newt species demand small transmitters. Two types of external attachments (sutured to epidermis and backpack) and traditional implanting in the peritoneal cavity were tested between groups of 5 adult individuals of the crested newt Triturus cristatus (mass 6-15 g) held in terrariums under controlled environmental conditions. The newts were anaesthetized with 1.5 g l–1 MS222, delivered in water and buffered to pH 6.9 by Na2CO2. Surgical plane of anaesthesia was achieved after 5-12 minutes and lasted for 30-60 minutes. External tagging proved unsuitable because transmitters became entangled in vegetation, and all animals shed their transmitters shortly after tagging, except for one that died. Transmitters that were surgically implanted in the peritoneal cavity were more successful. By the fourth day following surgery, the animals that had undergone surgery behaved similarly to control animals with respect to the use of cover. Two of the newts died, however, without showing any signs of illness in advance, and the cause of death could not be established. Based on the present experiments and published studies, implantable transmitters appear to be the best method for radiotagging small and medium sized urodele species such as T. cristatus, to gain crucial information on spatio-temporal terrestrial activity patterns, habitat utilization and hibernation sites. Additional research is needed to evaluate both short and long term effects on activity, behaviour and survival.
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| 3. |
- Hangartner, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of the disinfectant Virkon S on early life-stages of the moor frog (Rana arvalis)
- 2012
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - : Brill. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 33:3-4, s. 349-353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emerging diseases, such as the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, contribute to global population declines of amphibians. Virkon S is one of the most commonly used disinfectants to reduce risk of spreading such pathogens. Virkon S is classified as harmful to aquatic organisms, but until today no negative effects on tadpoles have been reported. We studied the effects of three concentrations of Virkon S on early life-stages (embryos and hatchlings) of the moor frog Rana anvils. Overall, Virkon S had no significant effects. However, hatching success was highest in the control treatment, suggesting that Virkon S may have weak negative effects on amphibian embryos. We suggest that further studies are needed to assess the negative effect of Virkon S on amphibians, and recommend that Virkon S is used with care and a minimized run-off into natural wetlands.
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| 4. |
- Hettyey, Attila, et al.
(författare)
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Body temperature, size, nuptial colouration and mating success in male Moor Frogs (Rana arvalis)
- 2009
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 30:1, s. 37-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Variation in colouration has rarely been related to sexual Selection ill anuran amphibians, even though such a relationship has been proven for many other vertebrate taxa. Male and female Moor Frogs (Rana arvalis) have a cryptic brown colour pattern, but males develop a conspicuous blue nuptial colouration during the reproductive season. To investigate: the possibility that colouration plays a role in sexual selection in this species, we Studied the temporal variation in blue colouration. determined if body size or body temperature affected blueness and investigated if blueness of males could be related to their mating, success. Results confirmed previous observation,,, that males develop and maintain blue colouration for only a very few nights during peak reproductive activity. Colouration of males was unrelated to body size, but males exhibiting higher body temperatures were somewhat bluer (hall males with lower body temperatures. Further, males in amplexus had higher body temperatures than non-mated males. Finally, Mating Success Was positively related to blueness in small males, whereas in large males no such relationship was detected. While our results align with the hypothesis that the bright blue colouration of males may be a target of sexual selection. alternative explanations are also discussed.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Montori, Albert, et al.
(författare)
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Habitat features affecting the small-scale distribution and longitudinal migration patterns of Calotriton asper in a Pre-Pyrenean population
- 2008
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 29:3, s. 371-381
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The longitudinal movements and abiotic factors that determine the distribution of Pyrenean mountain newts (males, females, amplexus and metamorphic newts) were examined in a 1500 meters segment of a Pre-Pyrenean stream. Migration of adult newts was studied by means of capture-recapture techniques in the course of one year. Our results indicate that the mean distance the newts migrated per year was less than 50 meters and the population could be considered sedentary. No significant differences in longitudinal movement patterns between the sexes were observed, and movement patterns were more or less constant over time. Habitat variables determining newt abundance was estimated by means of a GLM. Our results indicate that the number of refugia (wood debris, stones and fissures) determines the distribution of newts. Larval abundance was correlated with stream-bed structure.
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| 7. |
- Pomar-Gomez, A. D., et al.
(författare)
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The striking endemism pattern of the species-richest snake genus Atractus (Dipsadidae: Serpentes) highlights the hidden diversity in the Andes
- 2021
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - : Brill. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 42:2, s. 189-200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The distribution of the highly diversified and species-rich snake genus Atractus was assessed in search for endemism areas. The dataset of 6000 museum specimens was used to run an Endemicity Analyses in order to identify areas of biogeographic relevance for the genus Atractus. By using distinct methodological approaches and modifying the size and shape of grid cells we obtained a better adjustment to each species range, taking into account species distributed along the Andean and Atlantic Forest mountain ranges or certain vegetation constraints. Three scales of endemism were observed: micro endemic areas, represented by three different regions; intermediate sized endemic areas, represented by nine different regions; and macro-endemic areas, represented by four different provinces. Although most assessed regions corroborate well-defined biogeographic units according to the scientific literature, some, mainly located in the Colombian Andes, are not regularly considered in biogeographic syntheses carried out for vertebrates. Methodological approaches, along with a well curated database and taxonomic accuracy, may significantly influence the recovery of endemism areas, mainly considering mountain topography and local niche structure. The results present herein highlight the relevance of three Colombian Cordilleras, in order to completely understand Neotropical biota patterns of distribution. It is important to note that a well-resolved taxonomy represents both the framework and the first step toward a comprehensive biographical synthesis reducing Wallacean shortfalls in biodiversity.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Ujvari, Beata, et al.
(författare)
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Discrepancy in mitochondrial and nuclear polymorphism in meadow vipers (Vipera ursinii) questions the unambiguous use of mtDNA in conservation studies
- 2005
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - : Brill. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 26:3, s. 287-292
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The sequence diversity of the entire mitochondrial control region (CR) of three meadow viper (Vipera ursinii) populations was analysed and compared to previously documented nuclear genetic variability at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I loci. One of the populations, a small and inbred Hungarian population, exhibited no MHC polymorphism, whereas the two other, sampled from large viper populations in Ukraine, shoved very high MHC diversity. In spite of the great difference in population size and nuclear (MHC) diversity, all of the vipers from the three populations exhibited a CR haplotype diversity of zero. The dramatic discrepancy in nuclear vs. mitochondrial variability in the Ukrainian viper populations suggest that the lack of CR diversity was not caused by a population bottleneck, but rather by slow CR evolutionary rate, which has been documented in numerous other vertebrate taxa. Thus, due to the large taxonomic differences in CR rate of evolution, population genetic diversity estimates based on CR heterogeneity (and conservation management decisions that spring from those estimates) may depend as much upon the taxa being investigated, as upon the underlying pattern of genetic variation within the study population.
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| 10. |
- Wagner, Philipp, et al.
(författare)
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Alai! Alai! - a new species of the Gloydius halys (Pallas, 1776) complex (Viperidae, Crotalinae), including a brief review of the complex
- 2016
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Ingår i: Amphibia-Reptilia. - : Brill. - 0173-5373 .- 1568-5381. ; 37:1, s. 15-31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During a scientific field expedition to the Alai-Pamir range five specimens of the genus Gloydius have been collected in the larger Alai. A morphological and genetical examination of the specimens has shown that they are part of the G. halys complex, but represent a new taxon which is characterized by the following unique character combination: It is a slender and moderately stout small snake, up to 479 mm total length. The head has nine symmetrical plates on the upper head, 7 supralabial and 8-9 infralabial scales. Body scales in 20-22 rows around midbody, 143-156 ventral and 35-45 usually paired subcaudal scales. The cloacal plate not divided. The general coloration consists of various different tones of olive, tan and brown, having a distinct head, but an indistinct body pattern with, excluding the tail, 26-29 transverse crossbands, which are not extending to the sides of the body. The haplotype network shows the new species within the G. halys complex and close related to both, G. h. halys and G. h. caraganus. So far the new described species is only known from the Alai range. However, various Gloydius specimens are found in Kyrgyzstan and because of the complicated taxonomy those specimens have to re-identified to clarify their status and the status of the new species.
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