Amphibia

ECOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS AND EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN LAKE AYATA (OUED RIGH VALLEY: NORTHERN ALGERIAN SAHARA).
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ABSTRACT: Ayata Lake (155 ha) belongs to the complex of wetlands of Oued Righ Valley in Algerian Lower-Sahara. This study conducted between October 2009 and June 2010 has allowed a bioecological characterization of both biotic and abiotic elements of the site.
Flora and fauna Inventories have revealed existence of 13 plant species, 03 fish, 02 amphibians, 06 reptiles, 55 birds and 07 mammals. The flora of the site is mapped then the dynamics of dominant plant species is assessed by GIS software. Bio-ecological Statuses (faunal, trophic, phenological and protection) are attributed to the species surveyed and they are discussed. The spatiotemporal occupation of the lake by birds is mapped and detailed. Furthermore, this study includes a general review on wetlands ecosystems. Wetlands of the Lower-Sahara region (Ziban, Souf, valley of Oued Righ, and Ouargla) are inventoried, classified and mapped. This approach helped to highlight the biological resources of Ayata Lake and determine its actual ecological value. This can lead to propose suggestions for management and conservation close to its socioeconomic status in a sustainable development view.

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RÉSUMÉ: Le Lac Ayata (155 ha) appartient au complexe des zones humides de la Vallée d’Oued Righ au Bas-Sahara algérien. L’étude menée entre octobre 2009 et juin 2010 a permis une caractérisation bioécologique des éléments tant biotiques qu’abiotiques du site. Les inventaires de la flore et de la faune ont révélé l’existence de 13 espèces végétales, 03 poissons, 02 amphibiens, 06 reptiles, 55 oiseaux et 07 mammifères. La flore du site est cartographiée et la dynamique saisonnière des espèces dominantes est estimée par un logiciel de SIG. Des statuts bioécologiques (fauniques, trophiques, phénologiques et de protection) sont attribués aux espèces animales inventoriées puis ils sont discutés. L’occupation spatiotemporelle du lac par l’avifaune est cartographiée et détaillée. Par ailleurs, cette étude comporte des connaissances générales sur les des zones humides. Celles-ci sont inventoriées, classifiées puis cartographies dans la région du Bas-Sahara (Ziban, Souf, Vallée d’Oued Righ et Ouargla). Cette approche a permis de mettre en valeur les ressources biologiques du site et de déterminer son importance écologique. Ceci peut aboutir à des suggestions de gestion et de conservation étroites à son état socioéconomique dans une prospection d’un développement durable.

Review of data on all amphibian species from the territory of the former Soviet Union. The book is supplied with a CD with interactive maps of all localities for each species. Here the book is available for download. The CD may be downloaded from
https://yadi.sk/d/SRimWnN44NUI2

The results of a ten-day long herpetology oriented excursion to the Bjeshkët e Nemura, Shkodër District, northern Albania in July 1996 are presented. Of the 14 species of amphibians known from this administrative district, six were encountered in the vicinity of Okol. Six species of reptiles were also seen or collected. The region around an unnamed lake on the Qafë e Vogël (1605 m) is the highest occurrence of Podarcis erhardii ever reported. Due to the unfavorable climate at this altitude, amphibians breed late in summer, and completing metamorphosis apparently takes over one year for Triturus alpestris larvae. A literature review and some taxonomical comments complement the individual species accounts.

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We investigated the abundance of the tegu lizard (Tupinambis merianae) in a 21 787 ha Brazilian Atlantic forest fragment (Reserva Natural Vale, RNV). This remnant has a highly irregular perimeter and an extensive network (126 km) of internal unpaved roads. We hypothesized that the high proportion of these edge habitats might benefit active heliothermic lizards like tegus due to greater incidence of sunlight. We estimated population density using the program DISTANCE, and compared sighting frequency of tegus along twelve 500 m long transects located at three distances (25, 200 and 400 m) from the nearest unpaved road or fragment edge. We found no significant differences in sighting frequency among the three distances (Chi-square; χ2 = 4.308; P = 0.116) and no significant association between edge distance and edge type (internal, external) (G test adjusted; G2 = 0.617; P = 0.734). However, as the test comparing distances had relatively low power we assumed that the experimental eviden...

In 2007, 2008 and 2009 the authors carried out an extensive study of the amphibian and reptile fauna of the
island of Mljet resulting in the detection of 12 species. one amphibian and 11 reptile species were recorded (Emys
orbicularis, Testudo hermanni; Hemidactylus turcicus, Podarcis melisellensis, Dalmatolacerta oxycephala,
Pseudopus apodus; Coronella austriaca, Hierophis gemonensis, Zamenis longissimus, Malpolon insignitus and
Vipera ammodytes). In addition, previous publications reported findings of Bufo viridis, Anguis fragilis, Elaphe
quatuorlineata and Zamenis situla. Lacerta agilis and Podarcis siculus were obviously mentioned erroneously.
With a total of 16 species, the island of Mljet is of average herpetofaunal richness among Mediterranean islands
but one of the richest adriatic islands.
Four species are listed in the red Data Book of endangered amphibians and reptiles of Croatia: Caretta
caretta as endangered (eN), Emys orbicularis and Testudo hermanni as near threatened (NT), and Zamenis situla
as data deficient (DD).

Diet is a fundamental aspect of the ecological niche of amphibians and
usually varies intra-specifically in response to extrinsic environmental and intrinsic
individual factors. Phenotypic variations among individuals can generate
intrapopulation differences in trophic resource use, which could have important
ecological and evolutionary implications in amphibian populations. Here, we
studied the intrapopulation dietary variation of the frog Pseudopaludicola pusilla
in an anthropic savanna of the Colombian Caribbean region, considering the
effects of seasonality and sex on the size, amount, prey composition and dietary
individual specialization. We collected 44 adult frogs during the dry season and
46 during the rainy season and analyzed their stomach contents to determine
their dietary composition. Our results indicate that P. pusilla is a generalist and
opportunist predator, feeding mainly on insects of the orders Orthoptera,
Coleoptera and Hymenoptera, which were the most important prey categories
due to their numeric, volumetric and frequency contributions. We observed
seasonal variations regarding volumetric prey composition and the importance
value of each prey category in the populational diet. Individuals of P. pusilla
consume more prey items during the rainy season and bigger prey during the dry
season, but the volume of stomach contents did not vary seasonally. Males and
females of P. pusilla consumed a similar number of prey items, but females
ingested more voluminous prey and had greater volumes of stomach contents
than males. Additionally, we observed a pattern of dietary individual specialization,
which was not related to morphological trade-offs and did not differ among
seasons. These findings contribute to the understanding of the seasonal dynamics of the use of trophic resources by anurans and the effect of sex on dietary characteristics of P. pusilla, in environments strongly influenced by climatic seasonality.

The project " Conservation of rare reptiles and amphibians in Latvia " (LIFE-HerpetoLatvia) was established with co-financing of European Commission and realized in 2010 – 2014. Project target goal on Bombina bombina was to facilitate the enlargement of Bombina bombina largest population Demene and to ensure Bombina bombina long-time persistence in Latvia by combining in-situ, ex-situ methods, and legal protection improvement. As a result of the Project two new microreserves Natura 2000 territories (Katriniski and Strauti) were created for conservation of Bombina bombina. For the B. bombina 27 ponds were created or restored in Demene (14 in Katriniski and 13 in Strauti). More than 4 000 Bombina bombina juveniles were raised in aquaculture and released for population enforcement.