Temporal segregation in larval amphibian communities in temporary ponds at a locality in SW Spain

AbstractThe amphibian community of the Biological Reserve of Doñana (SW Spain) is composed of 10 species, their period of larval occurrence commonly taking place from autumn to early summer, although it may vary from year to year in relation to the flooding conditions of ponds. A segregation is observed according to temporal use of temporary ponds by larvae of different species. Pelobates cultripes and Discoglossus galganoi tadpoles occur in ponds during their whole persistence, from flooding to drying up. Hyla meridionalis, Triturus marmoratus and Triturus boscai larvae commonly exploit a shorter temporal range, appearing about two months later until early summer. Bufo bufo, Bufo calamita and normally also Rana perezi have the shortest larval periods, of about two months. Rana perezi is also characterized by its delay in temporal use of the ponds in comparison with the other species. The flexibility of the larval period season is considered an adaptation to the unpredictability of temporary ponds. Thus, under certain climatic conditions, the two first groups of species may occur in the same temporal range.

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Problems and practical experiences during refilling of the Kerspe-Talsperre under unfavourable climatic conditions

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0126 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 145-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. E. Nienhüser ◽

P. Braches

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Early Summer ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Oxygen Deficit ◽

Light Limitation ◽

Raw Water ◽

Artificial Mixing ◽

Poor Water Quality ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Practical Experiences

Refilling of the Kerspe-Talsperre reservoir after restoration of the dam caused severe problems in water quality and supply due to a long-lasting ice-cover period and minimal precipitation. Unusually short spring overturn, high algal mass in spring and certainly the overflooding of the sediment, which had not been removed, caused a tremendous oxygen deficit in early summer. The whole hypolimnion turned anoxic and even in the metalimnion oxygen declined to a minimum. Manganese and iron reached high concentrations. Despite the poor water quality, raw water was urgently needed for the water supply and was pumped from the epilimnion during the clear water phase and in July when algal biomass was low. In the middle of August holomixis was induced artificially in order to improve water quality. The decline in algal production during and after artificial mixing was probably caused by light limitation of the algae.

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Larval diets of two anuran species, Pelodytes punctatus and Bufo bufo, in SW Spain

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853889x00304 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 71-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Carmen Diaz-Paniagua

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Bufo Bufo ◽

Sw Spain ◽

Anuran Species

AbstractDiets of both species studied were basically composed of algae and detritus. For Pelodytes punctatus, other food types exhibited minor contributions to the diet. For Bufo bufo, phanerogams reached considerable proportions too and the frequency of animals may be considered noteworthy if related to other species in the area. Morphologically they seem to be both conditioned to bottom dwelling rather than to the use of water column.

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Distribution of herpetofauna in caves of Portuguese karst massifs

ARPHA Conference Abstracts ◽

10.3897/aca.1.e30452 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

Ana Marques ◽

Joana Soares ◽

Fernando Gonçalves ◽

Sérgio Marques ◽

Ana Sofia P. S. Reboleira

Keyword(s):

Bufo Bufo ◽

Karst Region ◽

Preliminary Survey ◽

Potential Habitat ◽

Salamandra Salamandra ◽

Triturus Marmoratus ◽

Lack Of Knowledge

Amphibians are frequently found exploring subterranean environments. Even though in Europe there are already some reports of amphibians present in subterranean habitats, in Portugal there is a major lack of knowledge of these ecosystems, namely in the karst region. Considering the relevance of amphibians and their current conservational status, it is important to assess their presence in every potential habitat. In order to provide further knowledge over this subject a preliminary survey was carried out in two Portuguese karst massifs, Estremenho and Sicó. A total of 24 caves were surveyed and as result three species (Tarentola mauritanica; Salamandra salamandra and Pleorodeles waltl) were found in Estremenho karst massif, and two species (Triturus marmoratus and Bufo bufo) were observed in Sicó karst massif. Furthermore, evidences were found that P. waltl uses caves for reproduction, which had only been reported once in Spain. This allowed perceiving that herpetofauna species occupy caves of Portuguese karst massifs and are also using them as reproduction sites.

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Impact of weather on dynamics of plant functional groups in an abandoned limestone grassland

Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae ◽

10.5586/asbp.2011.038 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 259-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zbigniew Dzwonko ◽

Stefania Loster

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Early Summer ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Plant Functional Groups ◽

Permanent Plots ◽

Plant Groups ◽

Successional Species ◽

Abandoned Grassland ◽

Vegetative Spread ◽

Natural Grassland

We examined to what extend the rate and direction of changes in unmanaged grassland depend on fluctuations in climatic conditions. Vegetation data from permanent plots in a semi-natural grassland in southern Poland collected over 12 years were used. Relations between weather variables, time, and the cover of 41 more frequent species and 14 plant functional groups were analysed. The greatest effect on the dynamics of species and functional groups had precipitation in spring and/or early summer, particularly in the current year. The majority of plant groups were significantly affected also by the temperature in spring and early summer in one of the three previous years. During 12 years, the cover of annuals and biennials, short plants, and plants with small leaves decreased, while the cover of taller plants, plants with larger leaves, and with vegetative spread increased. The analyses suggest that these successional changes were not directly associated with climatic conditions but were affected by them indirectly through interspecific competition. The fluctuations in climatic conditions, chiefly precipitation, had a significant effect on both the composition and the rate of changes in abandoned grassland. The increase in the cover of tall perennial species with broad leaves hindered succession towards woodland despite of the presence of woods in the closed vicinity. It can be expected that during drier periods colonisation of grassland by later successional species could be easier.

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The Seasonal Abundance of Female Biting-Midges, Culicoides-Brevitarsis Kieffer (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), in Coastal South-Eastern Australia

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9910333 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 333 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

MD Murray

Keyword(s):

Generation Time ◽

New South ◽

Light Trap ◽

Early Summer ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Seasonal Abundance ◽

Biting Midges ◽

Cattle Movements ◽

South Wales ◽

Eastern Australia

Daily light-trap collections of female C. brevitarsis were made at three localities along the northern coastal plains of New South Wales. Numbers increased during spring, were maximal in summer, declined during autumn and were minimal in winter. The generation time was about 3-4 weeks in the summer and several cohorts of nulliparous midges, probably representing different generations, were detected from spring to autumn. Some breeding continued throughout the winter. Summer abundance appeared to be associated with high rates of reproduction in late spring or early summer, and this occurred when rainfall was adequate for good pasture growth. Midge survival was better in the summer than in other seasons of the year, and numbers of parous females increased rapidly whenever it rained, probably due to their increased survival and longevity. At each locality, numbers fluctuated throughout spring, summer and autumn, with peaks and troughs of abundance which were often not obviously associated with concurrent climatic conditions or cattle movements.

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Influence of pruning and the climatic conditions on acorn production in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) dehesas in SW Spain

Annals of Forest Science ◽

10.1051/forest:2007092 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 209-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Reyes Alejano ◽

Raúl Tapias ◽

Manuel Fernández ◽

Enrique Torres ◽

Joaquín Alaejos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quercus Ilex ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Holm Oak ◽

Acorn Production ◽

Sw Spain

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STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN PRIMARY LENTICELS OF NORWAY SPRUCE OVER THE SEASONS

IAWA Journal ◽

10.1163/22941932-90000324 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 105-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sabine Rosner ◽

Birgit Kartusch

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Late Summer ◽

Early Summer ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Wall Thickening ◽

Intercellular Spaces ◽

Phase 3

Seasonal production of lenticel tissues was compared between Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) from a mountain site (1200 m), where they are autochthonous, and seven allochthonous lowland sites (250–600 m).The periodic changes of lenticel structure were grouped into four stages, based on the degree of their opening: phase 1 - winter dormancy; phase 2 - beginning of meristem activity in spring; phase 3 - production of non-suberised filling tissue in early summer, which causes the disruption of the closing layer formed in the previous growing season; and phase 4 - differentiation of a new closing layer in late summer. Structural changes in lenticels of P. abies may be interpreted as a long-term reaction to climatic conditions, balancing transpiration and respiration. During the most active period of wood production, lenticels were found in their most permeable phase, phase 3. The production of a new closing layer takes place when summer temperatures reach maximum values, and when demand for effective regulation of transpiration is high. During phase 4 transpiration is successfully controlled because differentiating cells of the new closing layer are already suberised, although not in their final rounded shape, and therefore have small intercellular spaces. High annual variability in stratification of lenticel tissues, such as the proportion between closing layer and filling tissue, wall thickening and size of intercellular spaces, also indicates possible long-term regulation mechanisms for transpiration.

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Where the wild things are: Seasonal variation in caribou distribution in relation to climate change

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.25.4.1770 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 51 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Philippa McNeil ◽

Don E. Russell ◽

Brad Griffith ◽

Anne Gunn ◽

Gary P. Kofinas

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Environmental Factor ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Early Summer ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Climate Data ◽

Climate Trends ◽

Migration Patterns ◽

Mining Sites

In this study, we develop a method to analyse the relationships between seasonal caribou distribution and climate, to estimate how climatic conditions affect interactions between humans and caribou, and ultimately to predict patterns of distribution relative to climate change. Satellite locations for the Porcupine (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Bathurst (R. t. groenlandicus) caribou herds were analysed for eight ecologically-defined seasons. For each season, two levels of a key environmental factor influencing caribou distribution were identified, as well as the best climate data available to indicate the factor's annual state. Satellite locations were grouped according to the relevant combination of season and environmental factor. Caribou distributions were compared for opposing environmental factors; this comparison was undertaken relative to hunting access for the Porcupine Herd and relative to exposure to mining activity for the Bathurst Herd. Expected climate trends suggest an overall increase in access to Porcupine caribou for Aklavik (NWT) hunters during the winter and rut seasons, for Venetie (Alaska) hunters during midsummer and fall migration and for Arctic Village (Alaska) during midsummer. Arctic Village may experience reduced availability with early snowfalls in the fall, but we expect there to be little directional shift in the spring migration patterns. For the Bathurst Herd, we expect that fewer caribou would be exposed to the mines during the winter, while more caribou would be exposed to the combined Ekati and Diavik mining zone in the early summer and to the Lupin-Jericho mining zone during the fall migration. If changes in climate cause an increased presence of caribou in the mining sites, monitoring and mitigation measures may need to be intensified.

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