scholarly journals Environmental factors associated with amphibian breeding in streams and springs: effects of habitat and fish occurrence

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raoul Manenti ◽  
Roberta Pennati
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
Primary Habitat ◽  
Habitat Feature

Streams are among the most threatened aquatic habitats for amphibians. Amphibians often demonstrate a complex community structure and investigations are mainly performed on pond-dwelling species, whereas data regarding stream-dwelling species is still scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance of stream features and the effects of the occurrence of predatory fish on the community structure of amphibians. To assess the occurrence of breeding among amphibians (in Northern Apennine streams), sampling was performed on 57 stream and spring sites between early March and late May 2014. The research process recorded the presence of four breeding species (Salamandra salamandra, Salamandrina perspicillata, Bufo bufo, and Rana italica) and discovered that the community structures of amphibians were significantly connected to different habitat features. The investigation showed that fish presence is the primary habitat feature that affects the communities of amphibians: B. bufo was the only amphibian species not affected by fish presence, while the other species avoided sites with fish. Sun exposure, depth of water and slope inclination played important roles in affecting amphibian breeding. Our study confirms that fish presence in small streams can be detrimental for different amphibian species.

scholarly journals Amphibians in an urban environment: a case study from a central European city (Wrocław, Poland)

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-243
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Konowalik ◽  
Anna Najbar ◽  
Kamil Konowalik ◽  
Łukasz Dylewski ◽  
Marzena Frydlewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Rana Arvalis ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Triturus Cristatus ◽  
Lissotriton Vulgaris ◽  
Hyla Arborea ◽  
The City

AbstractIn 2016, we studied the occurrence of amphibians in 231 selected ponds in the city of Wrocław (Lower Silesia, Poland) and confirmed the occurrence of 10 species: Bombina bombina, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelobates fuscus, Pelophylax esculentus complex, Rana arvalis, Rana temporaria, Lissotriton vulgaris and Triturus cristatus. Among all studied sites, the most common were P. esculentus complex (146 occupied sites, 63.2%) and B. bufo (119, 51.5%), while the rarest was P. fuscus (8, 3.5%). The number of species at a single site varied from 0 (28 sites, 12.1%) to 9 (1 site, 0.4%). Frequency and mean amphibian species richness reached 87.9% and 2.7 ± 1.9, respectively. The composition of amphibian species did not change in comparison to previous studies conducted in the years 1997–2009, but declining trends in five species (B. bombina, B. viridis, H. arborea, P. esculentus complex, P. fuscus) were observed (28 compared sites). The results revealed that the permanency of ponds, their occurrence in the vicinity of river valleys, and a high ratio of watercourse length and green area around ponds are positively correlated and have a significant influence on amphibian species richness within the city. Thus, these identified factors should be considered in the course of sustainable urban planning in order to avoid potential conflicts between nature conservation and urban development.

Analysis of amphibian habitat preferences in a farmland area (Po plain, northern Italy)

1994 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela S. Ildos ◽  
Nicoletta Ancona
Keyword(s):  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Po Plain ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Hyla Arborea ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Lowland Area ◽  
Important Habitat

AbstractForty-two water bodies in an agricultural lowland area of northern Italy were investigated with respect to the presence of amphibians and to a number of habitat features. The following species were found: Rana kl. esculenta, R. latastei, Bufo bufo, B. viridis, Hyla arborea, Triturus carnifex and T. vulgaris meridionalis. A discriminant analysis was carried out for each species to test whether there were significant difference between ecological characteristics of used and unused sites; all analyses showed a significant difference, and they also made it possible to identify the most important habitat features for each species found. Vegetational factors seemed to be the most important.

Vulnerability of Southwest Iberian amphibians to an introduced crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Rebelo ◽  
Maria João Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Breeding Habitats ◽  
Mesocosm Experiments ◽  
Native Crayfish ◽  
Crayfish Species

AbstractThe introduction of predators in amphibian breeding habitats may contribute to the decline or extinction of amphibian populations. Procambarus clarkii, a North American crayfish, was recently introduced in the Iberian Peninsula, being now quite abundant in the southwest, a region with no native crayfish species and where 13 amphibian species may be found. We performed mesocosm experiments to evaluate the vulnerability of amphibian embryos and larvae from those species to P. clarkii. Despite the presence of alternative food (vegetation and leaf litter), embryo survival in the presence of P. clarkii was low for all species except Bufo bufo. However, newly hatched B. bufo tadpoles were readily consumed. P. clarkii reduced larval survival in all species, with those species that in nature have few contacts with predators at the larval stage suffering the highest mortalities. Most larvae reduced their activity and/or altered microhabitat use in the presence of P. clarkii, but these behavioural modifications did not lead necessarily to a low vulnerability to predation.

Freshwater Fish Fauna and Community Structure of the Small Streams in Bogil Island, Korea

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-80
Author(s):  
Jeong-Ho Han ◽  
◽  
Chan-Seo Park ◽  
Kwang-Guk An ◽  
Woon-Kee Paek
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Freshwater Fish Fauna ◽  
Small Streams

scholarly journals Herpetofauna of the Kozubów Landscape Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-14
Author(s):  
Dariusz Wojdan ◽  
Ilona Żeber-Dzikowska ◽  
Barbara Gworek ◽  
Ewa Lisowska-Mieszkowska ◽  
Jarosław Chmielewski
Keyword(s):  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
Common Frog ◽  
Common Toad ◽  
Rana Arvalis ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Triturus Cristatus ◽  
Hyla Arborea

Abstract The research was conducted in 2016–2017 in the 6,613-ha Kozubów Landscape Park (KLP). It focused on the occurrence and distribution of amphibians and reptiles, the biology and phenology of selected species and the existing threats. The KLP, established in 1986, is located in the Nida Basin, covering the eastern part of the Wodzisławski Ridge. This area is characterised by diverse landscape features formed on a chalk substrate. A significant part of the KLP (48.8%) is covered by forests growing on the tops and slopes of loess hills intersected by valleys and gorges. Hornbeam forests and fragments of riparian forests have retained a semi-natural character. The steep, non-forested slopes with a southern and south-western exposure are overgrown by thermophilic xerothermic grasslands. Xerothermic plant communities show a relatively low species diversity, because the main type of substrate in this area is loess. Two nature reserves, Polana Polichno and Wroni Dół, are located within the KLP borders. The following amphibian species were found in the KLP: smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris L.), great crested newt (Triturus cristatus Laur.), European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina L.), common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus Laur.), common toad (Bufo bufo L.), European green toad (Bufotes viridis Laur.), European tree frog (Hyla arborea L.), edible frog (Pelophylax esculentus L.), pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae Cam.), moor frog (Rana arvalis Nilss.) and common frog (Rana temporaria L.). Reptiles are represented by the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis L.), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara Jacquin), slow worm (Anguis fragilis L.), grass snake (Natrix natrix L.), smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laur.) and common European adder (Vipera berus L.). The study also included the phenology and reproductive biology of common toad and common frog. Major threats to the herpetofauna are posed by grass burning. Unfavourable changes include decreasing water levels and drying out of water bodies.

scholarly journals Body size mediates latitudinal population differences in response to Bd infection in two amphibian species.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Meurling ◽  
Maria Cortazar-Chinarro ◽  
Mattias Siljestam ◽  
David Ahlen ◽  
Erik Agren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Geographical Origin ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Rana Arvalis ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Survival Difference ◽  
Species Survival

Populations of the same species may differ in their sensitivity to pathogens but the factors behind this variation are poorly understood. Moreover, infections may cause sub-lethal fitness effects even in species resistant or tolerant to disease. The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a generalist pathogen which has caused amphibian population declines worldwide. In many species, Bd infection causes the disease chytridiomycosis, often leading to high mortality. We investigated how geographical origin affects tolerance to Bd by exposing newly metamorphosed individuals of two North European amphibians (moor frog Rana arvalis, common toad Bufo bufo) from two latitudinal regions to two different BdGPL strains. Bd exposure strongly lowered survival in B. bufo, and in both species survival was lower in the northern region, this difference being much stronger in B. bufo. Northern individuals were smaller in both species, and the survival difference between the regions was size-mediated with smaller individuals being more sensitive to Bd. In both species, Bd exposure led to sub-lethal effects in terms of reduced growth suggesting that even individuals surviving the infection may have reduced fitness mediated by smaller body size. Bd strain affected size-dependent mortality differently in the two regions. We discuss the possible mechanisms how body size and geographical origin can contribute to the present results.

Delineating fish-habitat associations for spatially based management: an example from the south-eastern Australian continental shelf

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Williams ◽  
Nicholas J. Bax
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
The South ◽  
Community Patterns ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
North East ◽  
Representative System

A multi-scale, multi-gear survey identified the spatial structure and compositions of fish communities from a range of seabed types on the south-eastern Australian continental shelf (25 m to ~200 m depth). Most communities are species-rich and contain many shared species. Multivariate analysis of distributions of 201 fishes showed communities to be correlated with depth, latitude and seabed type;correlation with hydrodynamic climate is suggested by patterns in morphology. Depth-related patterns occurred on soft-sediment and hard substrata; strong latitudinal (south-west/north-east)patterns identify the area as a faunal transition zone with a major faunal disjunction extending across the shelf. Community patterns were overlaid on distributions of substrata to produce a biophysical map. This mapping process is discussed in the context of spatial management:the ecologically significant scale at which to map habitat features and definition of management units for ecosystem-based management. A hierarchy of scaled ecological units is being developed for Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA);given the scope of the NRSMPA initiative, surrogate measures of community structure will be required. Maps of substrata and topography, interpreted in the context of the broader depth and latitudinal community structure and as modified by hydrography, may provide one useful surrogate.

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