SPAWNING WATER BODIES AND THEIR ROLE IN CONSERVATION OF RARE AMPHIBIAN SPECIES IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN (RUSSIA)
Journal Title: Nature Conservation Research. Заповедная наука - Year 2018, Vol 3, Issue 0
Abstract
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.
Authors and Affiliations
Azim D. Askenderov, Lyudmila F. Mazanaeva, Roman A. Mikhaylov, Alexander I. Fayzulin
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP493028
- DOI 10.24189/ncr.2018.057
- Views 92
- Downloads 0
DISTRIBUTION AND BIOLOGY OF THE GROUND BEETLE CARABUS (DAMASTER) BLAPTOIDES RUGIPENNIS ON KUNASHIR ISLAND, KURILE ISLANDS, RUSSIA
Based on long-term observations, Carabus blaptoides rugipennis is a polytopic, little specialized malacophagous subspecies widespread across Kunashir Island, Kuriles. Its reproduction pattern is autumnal-summer, with low...
EVALUATION OF THE FODDER STOCKS FOR THE PRZEWALSKI HORSE EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII ON THE «PRE-URAL STEPPE» PLOT OF THE ORENBURG STATE NATURE RESERVE
In 2015 the Federal Government Funded Institution «Orenburg Reserves» started the Programme of Establishing of a Semi-Free Population of the Przewalski Horse at the Orenburg Reserve on the territory of the steppe area «P...
CONSERVATION OF RARE SPECIES OF MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC NATIONAL PARK, INCLUDED IN THE RED DATA BOOK OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND IN THE IUCN RED LIST
The Russian Arctic National Park is a marine Protected Area playing a significant role in conservation of rare and protected endemic species of the Arctic fauna and flora, included in the IUCN Red List and/or in the Red...
CAMERA-TRAP MONITORING OF AMUR TIGER (PANTHERA TIGRIS ALTAICA) IN SOUTHWEST PRIMORSKY KRAI, 2013–2016: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Southwest Primorsky Krai retains the sole remaining population of critically endangered Amur leopards, but and also holds an isolated population of Amur tigers. This small group of tigers plays a key role as a core breed...
THE BATS (CHIROPTERA; MAMMALIA) OF MORDOVIA: SPECIFIC STRUCTURE AND FEATURES OF DISTRIBUTION
This article presents the specific structure and distribution of the bats made in the territory of the Republic of Mordovia (Central Russia) from the first half of the 20th century to the present. Occurence, relative abu...