Nature Conservation Research

17–27

Authors: Hernandez A., Hou M.

The natural history of newly discovered species among the genus Tylototriton in South-Eastern Asia is poorly known to date, and most of the species are threatened by extinction. The description of their ecology is crucial to determine their survival status and successful reproduction for conservation purposes. In this study, we assessed the microhabitat preferences of Tylototriton yangi at the type locality, Gejiu, Yunnan province, China, with the Visual Encounter Survey method and by using new important materials. The main habitat is located within a humid subtropical climate and is composed of a large karstic mountain containing some patch of secondary mixed forests and plantations such as tomato fields, pepper and cabbage that are surrounded by scrubs, grasses and small ponds. We provided a complete diagnosis with new morphological data analysing ten adult individuals from the type series to establish a formal description which is absent from the first original description. We compared our results with other related taxa of the genus Tylototriton to updated key determinants between similar species. Thus, we analysed the population structure and the behaviour of T. yangi during a period of ten years, 2008–2017, to assess its survival status and to determine the main threat factors. A total of 186 specimens were found during the whole study predicting a small population inhabiting the type locality, Gejiu. Consequently, T. yangi is now regarded as a highly threatened species that need more attention of Chinese authorities and we suggest regarding it as Endangered due to its small distribution range, the low number of adult specimens observed and ongoing exploitation.

36–50

Authors: Chikhlyaev I.V., Kirillova N.Yu., Kirillov A.A.

A comparative analysis of the trematode fauna of the marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus from different habitats of the National Park «Samarskaya Luka» is given. It is based on the authors' own materials collected in 1998‒2001 on three locations: on the coast of the Volga channel, floodplain lakes and nearby islands. Twenty-two trematode species were found. Differences in the composition of trematodes and the nature of infestation of amphibians from different biotopes have been revealed. It has been established that the diversity of trematodes and their infectivity are higher in amphibians in floodplain lakes with relatively constant environmental conditions. Frogs from river coast habitats with dynamic environmental conditions are less infected with the same diversity of species. Amphibians of isolated island habitats are characterised by relatively small number of trematode species and a low level of helminth invasion. The causes of differences in amphibian infestation by trematodes in different biotopes are complex. Diversity, high abundance of mollusks and arthropods (intermediate hosts) cause a high level of infestation of frogs with sexually mature flukes, transmitted through food chains. The high density of the amphibians themselves, and, accordingly, of the predators batrachophages, leads to intensive infestation of frogs by larval stages of trematodes. A literature review of the data on the influence of abiotic and biotic factors of the environment on amphibian trematode is given. The formation of the trematode fauna of frogs is influenced by a number of environmental factors acting in the aggregate: the hydrological regime of the reservoir, the diversity and density of populations of intermediate, reservoir and definitive hosts of trematodes in the biocoenosis.

61–72

Authors: Maslova I.V., Portnyagina E.Yu., Sokolova D.A., Vorobieva P.A., Akulenko M.V., Portnyagin A.S., Somov A.A.

Information is given on new findings of five rare and endangered species of amphibians and reptiles inhabiting the Primorsky Krai: Onychodactylus fischeri, Pelodiscus maackii, Takydromus wolteri, Oocatochus rufodorsatus and Hebius vibakari. New locations are presented for the studied amphibians and reptiles. For the first time, Onychodactylus fischeri is reported here for the Partizanky Ridge, thus expanding its known habitat range in the south-western direction. Data on Takydromus wolteri, Oocatochus rufodorsatus and Hebius vibakari findings in western Primorsky Krai are provided for the first time. Habitat borders of Takydromus wolteri in the northern part of its distribution has been updated in various directions: to the west (Khankaysky District), north (Krasnoarmeysky District) and northeast (Olginsky District). The current model of habitat range and breeding places of Khankaysky population of Pelodiscus maackii has been demonstrated, taking into account submerging sandy spits on the western coast of Lake Khanka in 2014–2017. Rivers flowing into Khanka from the western site were shown to play an important role for inhabitance and reproduction of this species. Detailed information on distribution of Hebius vibakari in Primorsky Krai is given for the first time. This species is indicated to be common and sometimes numerous in the south and central parts of Primorsky Krai. The current state of this species' population was researched at locations indicated previously in the references. Some Protected Areas were analysed in the way they protect rare species of the Far Eastern herpetofauna. Hebius vibakari occurs consistently in the State Nature Reserve «Ussuriysky», State Nature Reserve «Kedrovaya Pad» and National Park «Land of the Leopard». Within their borders, the National Park «Bikin» and National Park «Udegeyskaya Legenda» are shown to have no effect on conserving populations of Pelodiscus maackii and Oocatochus rufodorsatus inhabiting basins of the River Bikin and River Bolshaya Ussurka. Their populations are distributed to the west of the national parks. Organising new Protected Areas is urgent for the Primorsky Krai in its western part (River Komissarovka basin) and in its south-eastern part (Livadiysky Ridge).

83–97

Authors: Askenderov A.D., Mazanaeva L.F., Mikhaylov R.A., Fayzulin A.I.

Environmental conditions in spawning waters are determined by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors. They are the most significant and therefore limiting in the selection of breeding sites and spawning grounds for amphibians. For conservation of the various amphibian populations it is necessary to establish an ecological optimum of specific species. The study has been conducted in a wide range of environmental conditions typical for the mountainous regions of the Caucasus. We studied 358 water bodies in the foothills of Dagestan. There are eight species of amphibians spawning here. Bufotes variabilis and Rana macrocnemis to adverse abiotic and biotic conditions in spawning waters are resistant. Lissotriton lantzi, Triturus karelinii, Pelobates fuscus, and P. syriacus are sensitive to different adverse environmental conditions in spawning waters. Lissotriton lantzi prefers non-flowing ponds, shaded areas, depth of reservoirs 50–100 cm and lots of aquatic vegetation, but Triturus karelinii prefers flowing ponds. Pelobates fuscus prefers unshaded ponds, but Pelobates syriacus prefers deep waters. Hyla arborea and Pelophylax ridibundus prefer flowing, shaded ponds with lots of aquatic vegetation. Bufotes variabilis and Rana macrocnemis are very tolerant to the environment. On the basis of the method of multivariate statistics, the main environmental factors significantly (p = 0.001) affecting the choice of spawning grounds by different types of amphibians: shading, depth, flow and overgrowing were established. It was revealed that the spawning grounds, which are of great importance for the conservation of rare amphibian species in the foothills of Dagestan is limited, this is due to the arid climatic conditions of the region. Recommendations for the conservation of amphibians and the development of protected areas in the foothills of the Republic of Dagestan are given.

110–119

Authors: Korzikov V.A., Aleksanov V.V.

A better understanding of the factors influencing the distribution of amphibians is needed to conserve amphibian species in regions highly populated by people. A total of 71 water bodies were examined in the Upper Oka Basin (the Central Part of the Russian Plain, Russia, Kaluga Oblast and adjacent regions). For each site, the presence and absence of 11 amphibian species were determined. We use the logistic regression within the glm function from the R Stats Package to estimate the influence of predictors on the probability of the species presence. The species with the highest occurrence were Pelophylax lessonae, P. ridibundus, Rana temporaria, and Bufo bufo. The type of terrestrial vegetation that surrounded the water body was a significant factor for three amphibian species. We found R. temporaria and B. bufo avoiding open habitats; and P. ridibundus avoiding wooded habitats. The degree of water moving was a significant factor for two amphibian species. Lissotriton vulgaris was present more frequent at lentic waters, and P. ridibundus preferred lotic waters. The percentage of the vegetation covering the water surface was a significant factor for Rana arvalis, which was more often present in water with 50% or more coverage. Acidity was a significant factor for Pseudepidalea viridis, which was detected only in neutral and alkaline waters. Total dissolved salts and the area of water body were significant predictors for no amphibian species. The presence of the Chinese sleeper (Perccottus glenii), an invasive fish species, was not significantly important in predicting detection or non-detection for any species. Many water bodies in the Upper Oka Basin that were likely once suitable for amphibians may not be occupied by amphibians due to barriers to dispersal from other sites and due to stochastic extinction. To estimate the capability of amphibian immigration from other sources, we identified the presence of lotic and lentic permanent water bodies within 1 km of a surveyed site. These factors were not significant for any species. Further investigations may achieve the best measure of connectivity of amphibian habitats. To conserve amphibians we need to keep terrestrial habitats surrounding the water bodies, especially wooded habitats.

125–130

Authors: Zhigileva O.N., Artishevskaya V.S., Burakova A.V., Baitimirova E.A.

Amphibians are an important but vulnerable component of biodiversity. Climatic changes and anthropogenic transformation of the environment can lead to changes in spawning times and habitat boundaries, causing adverse genetic processes in populations. In the present study, we assess genetic variation and differentiation among 184 individuals of four amphibian species (Rana arvalis, Rana amurensis, Rana temporaria, Bufo bufo) from seven localities of the south of Western Siberia and the Urals, Russia. To investigate the genetic diversity of these species, we used six primers for inter simple sequences repeat (ISSR) markers. Nei's gene diversity (h) varied from 0.169 to 0.311 in the local populations of amphibians; the diversity was the smallest in the common toad B. bufo and the highest in the Siberian wood frog R. amurensis. Populations of B. bufo and the moor frog R. arvalis were highly differentiated (mean multilocus GST = 0.249 and 0.268, respectively). Nei's original measures of genetic identity (I) and genetic distance (D) among the toad populations were comparable with these indexes among the studied brown frog populations. These results indicate that B. bufo and R. arvalis have a well-defined population structure with restricted gene flow between populations. We also identified a high level of genetic diversity among eggs of R. arvalis not observed in adults. Our results provide genetic evidence that all the studied species have high adaptive potential and genetic structure typical for amphibian populations. The presented data are intended to fill the gap in studying the genetic structure of the amphibian populations of the south of Western Siberia and the Urals. The data on different levels of genetic variability in amphibian populations from protected areas show their different value for conservation management. The presence of genetically impoverished populations requires monitoring of genetic diversity of amphibians. These data will be useful for conservation concerns, especially for developing appropriate management strategies.

136–139

Authors: Kurnaz M., Kutrup B.

Darevskia clarkorum is an endangered species distributed within a restricted area in Georgia and Turkey. The study has presented a new locality in the Province of Gümüşhane for the species. As the new locality is about 40 km away from the known distribution area, it is important in terms of defining the southernmost distribution area and limited locality of species. The record of the new locality of Darevskia clarkorum reveals that the species also occurs outside coastal areas. Thus, the endangered species begins to inhabit inland provinces, too.