The distribution of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans continues to expand in Europe. During 2014–2018, we collected 1,135 samples from salamanders and newts in 6 countries in Europe. We identified 5 cases of B. salamandrivorans in a wild population in Spain but none in central Europe or the Balkan Peninsula.

In 2016, we studied the occurrence of amphibians in 231 selected ponds in the city of Wrocław (Lower Silesia, Poland) and confirmed the occurrence of 10 species: Bombina bombina, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelobates fuscus, Pelophylax esculentus complex, Rana arvalis, Rana temporaria, Lissotriton vulgaris and Triturus cristatus. Among all studied sites, the most common were P. esculentus complex (146 occupied sites, 63.2%) and B. bufo (119, 51.5%), while the rarest was P. fuscus (8, 3.5%). The number of species at a single site varied from 0 (28 sites, 12.1%) to 9 (1 site, 0.4%). Frequency and mean amphibian species richness reached 87.9% and 2.7 ± 1.9, respectively. The composition of amphibian species did not change in comparison to previous studies conducted in the years 1997-2009, but declining trends in five species (B. bombina, B. viridis, H. arborea, P. esculentus complex, P. fuscus) were observed (28 compared sites). The results revealed that the permanency of ponds, their occurrence in the vicinity of river valleys, and a high ratio of watercourse length and green area around ponds are positively correlated and have a significant influence on amphibian species richness within the city. Thus, these identified factors should be considered in the course of sustainable urban planning in order to avoid potential conflicts between nature conservation and urban development.

Amphibian populations occurring at the margin of the species range exhibit lower genetic variation due to strong genetic drift and long-term isolation. Limited mobility and site fidelity together with habitat changes may accelerate genetic processes leading to local extinction. Here, we analyze genetic variation of the fire salamander subspecies Salamandra s. salamandra inhabiting the Outer Carpathian region in Poland, at the northern border of its distribution. Nuclear DNA polymorphism based on 10 microsatellite loci of 380 individuals sampled in 11 populations were analysed to measure gene flow between subpopulations and possible long-term isolation. Mitochondrial DNA control region analysis among 17 individuals representing 13 localities was used to detect the origin of populations which colonized Northern Europe after the last glaciation. Overall, pairwise FST’s and AMOVA test of ‘among group’ variation showed little differences in the allele frequencies and relatively high local gene flow. However, Bayesian clustering results revealed subtle structuring between eastern and western part of the studied region. Two extreme marginal populations from the Carpathian Piedmont revealed reduced genetic variation which may be attributed to strong influence of genetic drift. Only one mitochondrial DNA haplotype (type IIb) was found in all individuals and suggest that after the Last Glacial Maximum Salamandra salamandra migrated to the North-Western Europe from the single glacial refugium placed in the Balkan Peninsula.

The fire salamander Salamandra salamandra is a widespread taxon in Europe, exhibiting great intraspecific diversity in phenotype and life history traits across its geographical distribution. Here, we studied body size, sexual dimorphism, age, growth rate and condition of fire salamanders from the north-eastern margin of its range. In total, 2,102 individuals from 23 populations representing the Polish parts of the Sudetes and the Carpathian Mountains were sampled between 2004 and 2016. Body traits and age showed significant differences between the western (the Sudetes) and eastern (the Carpathians) groups of populations. Salamanders from the Carpathians tended to be longer, heavier and older. Female-biased sexual size dimorphism was found only in the Carpathians. Body condition at the beginning of the season was poor, then increased to reach a peak in early June, and deteriorated toward the end of the season. Age estimated by skeletochronology on phalangeal bones ranged from 2 to 16 years in both females and males, with the highest share of 7- to 9-year-old individuals. Age of juveniles ranged from 1 to 5 years in the Sudetes and from 1 to 4 years in the Carpathians. Growth curves (fitted using von Bertalanffy’s model) were asymptotic throughout the individual lifespans, but exhibited differences between sexes and mountain ranges. Altitude did not explain differences in characteristics of populations living in the two mountain ranges, but these differences most probably resulted from habitat quality (better in the Carpathians) and adverse human impact (higher in the Sudetes).

We analysed genetic variation within and differentiation between nineteen populations of the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra inhabiting the north-eastern margin of the species range in the Sudetes Mountains (south-western Poland). The results were compared with those obtained recently for the Polish part of the Carpathians. Variation of 10 nuclear microsatellite loci was analysed in 744 individuals to estimate genetic structure, gene flow, isolation and to test for a geographic gradient of genetic variation. Mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop) of 252 specimens from all localities was used to identify the origin of populations currently inhabiting its north-eastern range. We found little genetic differentiation among populations in the Sudetes indicating substantial recent or ongoing gene flow. The exceptions were one isolated peripheral population located outside the continuous distribution range which displayed extremely reduced genetic variation probably due to a combination of long term isolation and low population size, and one population located at the eastern margin of the Polish Sudetes. Populations inhabiting the Sudetes and the Carpathians formed two separate clusters based on microsatellite loci. In accordance with available phylogeographic information, single mitochondrial haplotype (type IIb) fixed in all populations indicates their origin from a single refugium and may suggest colonization from the Balkan Peninsula. The analysis of geographic gradient in variation showed its decline in the westerly direction suggesting colonization of Poland from the east, however, alternative scenarios of postglacial colonization could not be rejected with the available data.