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An integrative taxonomic analysis combining molecular and morphological lines of evidence revealed a new cryptic species in the Tylototriton verrucosus species group from Manipur, northeastern India. The new species was previously confused with T. hima-layanus and T. verrucosus. Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners...
The present work aims to contribute to the knowledge of the influence of environmental temperatures on the reproductive dynamics of the population of the Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis (Boulenger, 1882) at “Bosco di Palo” Natural Park (north of Rome, Central Italy). The data collection took place for a long – term investigation from...
Bu çalışmada, Lissotriton schmidtleri (Cüce Semender)’nin iki farklı yükseklikten (Efes, 5 m ve Karagöl, 816 m a.s.l.) elde edilen popülasyonunun yaş yapısı ve vücut ölçülerinin karşılaştırılması yapılmıştır. Parmak enine kesitlerindeki durgunluk çizgilerinin (LAG’ların) sayımıyla yetişkinlerin yaşını tespit etmek için iskelet kronolojisi yöntemi u...
Citations
... For example, a breeding population of eastern newts, a conservation priority species in Kansas, was discovered in only two wetlands in one of our study sites. One of these wetlands was managed for waterfowl by drying and tilling the area by July (Buckardt et al. 2022). This early drying likely limited survival rates of larvae prior to and after metamorphosis, due to the decreased larval sizes (Werner 1986). ...
Soil removal from surface mining activities can create depressions that eventually form wetlands that may support amphibian communities. Little is known about the function of these wetlands that have never been deliberately reclaimed yet have experienced vegetative succession. Amphibian persistence in artificial or disturbed wetlands can indicate habitat quality for wetland-dependent species. Here, we describe the wetland characteristics in a post-mined landscape that influenced amphibian species occupancy, species richness, and diversity. We used single species occupancy models to determine the wetland features that influenced larval presence of five common species. We examined the response of the amphibian community (i.e., richness, diversity, composition) to wetland features with linear models and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Occupancy for each species varied, but the presence of predatory fish, hydroperiod, and emergent vegetation cover were the most influential predictors of occupancy. Amphibian species richness and diversity were influenced by the water conductivity level, the presence of predatory fish, hydroperiod, and emergent vegetation cover within the wetland. Amphibian community composition was similar among wetlands regardless of their mining history or management. While species' occupancy patterns varied, the wetlands across our study area provided sufficient habitat to support a diverse amphibian community. Increasing the variation in wetlands through their protection, reclamation, and management could allow amphibians and other wetland-dependent species to persist on post-mined landscapes.
... The increase in urban sprawl increases the abundance and density of impervious surfaces, which not only can increase road mortality, but also alter can wetlands through stormwater and pollution run-off (Beebee, 2013;Johnson et al., 2013;Smallbone et al., 2011). These local and landscape changes are particularly important as global human populations become more concentrated and urbanized landscapes expand (Seto et al., 2012), yet amphibian populations continue to be understudied in urban ecosystems (Rega-Brodsky et al., 2022). ...
... However, these practices may also be detrimental to some individual species that have other requirements that are not being met by management for waterfowl or fish. For example, the eastern newt (Kansas SINC species) was found to be breeding in only two ponds, one of which was actively managed for waterfowl by drying and tilling the area by July (Buckardt et al., 2022). This early drying likely limits survival rates of larvae prior to and after metamorphosis, due to the decreased larval sizes (Werner, 1986). ...
Amphibian populations are declining globally, with habitat loss and fragmentation being a leading cause for their decline. Anthropogenic changes to a landscape, such as urbanization, agriculture, and surface mining, leave few native habitats intact, which can influence amphibian populations and communities to varying degrees. Amphibians can provide insight into the health of ecosystems because they are sensitive to changes in their environment. Thus, they can be considered indicator species in anthropogenically altered wetlands. The goal of this study was to characterize amphibian communities that are using surface mined lands that have undergone vegetative succession. For Chapter I, we used call surveys to model occupancy of four anuran species, two of which are species in need of conservation (SINC; crawfish frog [Lithobates areolatus] and spring peeper [Pseudacris crucifer]). We found that anthropogenic landscape features, such as the percent of open water and cropland land cover, provided the necessary habitat to support the anuran community. In Chapter II, we evaluated the wetland characteristics that influenced the occupancy of five focal larval anuran species and the species richness and diversity of the amphibian community. We captured ten species of amphibians, including the first county record of eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), a SINC species. Although our findings varied for each species, the change in wetland area, presence of predatory fish, water conductivity level, and percent of emergent vegetative cover explained the variation in occupancy patterns for most species and for the amphibian community within a wetland. We also found that larval amphibian communities did not differ between management or land use history of the site. Lastly in Chapter III, we assessed the efficacy of survey methodology on the capture rates of larval amphibians. We found that baiting minnow traps with green glowsticks increased capture rates overall, but this effect was species-specific and varied by the time of year. The findings from all three studies provide important insights regarding amphibian use of formerly mined landscapes. The factors that determine species occupancy and community structure are related to both landscape composition and local habitat features, regardless of land-use history. Even sites that have been heavily disturbed by surface mining can potentially provide habitat for multiple amphibian species, including at-risk species. The conservation value of these recovering wetlands warrants their management and protection.
The Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) is listed as a species in need of conservation in Kansas due to its limited range and infrequent occurrence in the state. While Eastern Newts have been documented in five counties in southeast Kansas, they remain uncommon throughout the region. Our objective was to analyze wetland features that could influence the presence of breeding Eastern Newts in a newly discovered population in Crawford County. We used dip nets to sample 10 locations in each of 12 different wetlands from July 21 to August 8, 2022. We found eight larval Eastern Newt individuals in four of the wetlands. While most characteristics were similar between wetlands with and without Eastern Newts, wetlands with newts had less surrounding grassland cover, lower dissolved oxygen, and no fish. We recommend that future studies assess additional habitat variables, such as plant species richness or invertebrate abundance, which could influence
Eastern Newt occurrence. Particularly, more surveys are needed along the Marais des Cygnes and Spring River watersheds to identify a possible source population and the extent of the metapopulation. Understanding the habitat associations and distribution of Eastern Newts at the western edge of their geographic range could be a foundation for future conservation efforts in this region.
