69 road sections with amphibian mortality known from 2006 in Lviv Region (Western Ukraine) were repeatedly surveyed in 2017. 2078 dead individuals of nine amphibian species were detected and identified on the road surface (Triturus cristatus, Bombina bombina, Pelobates fuscus, Bufo bufo, Hyla orientalis, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Pelophylax ridibundus and Pelophylax esculentus). The most numerous victims appeared to be B. bufo (72.8 %) and R. temporaria (22.6 %) which is almost the same as in 2006 (90.5 % together). However, the qualitative and quantitative composition has decreased in a decade (compare 3555 individuals of 13 amphibian species in 2006). As we suppose, the main reasons for amphibian population decline in the region are contamination, degradation and disappearance of the breeding ponds as well as the increased traffic intensity. According to the estimation of our research four B. bufo populations are under the excessive influence of roads and transportation, and need to be protected. One of these road sections was fenced up by temporary amphibian fences during the breeding migration (April 2018). Amphibian mortality on the fenced road section dropped down instantly: over thousand individuals of B. bufo and R. temporaria were caught alive into the bucket-traps and safely moved across the road.
The results of phenotypic variability of water frogs (Pelophylax) analysis depending on internal and external influence factors are presented. 345 individuals of three species (Marsh Frog, Pool Frog and Edible Frog) were taken for the analysis from water bodies of different level of anthropogenic influence. The hydrochemical composition of water from the investigated aquatic ecosystems was analyzed, and the classification of water bodies after their water quality was done. The expression rates of nine phenotypes depending on the species of frog, its age stage and water quality class were established. It was found out that all the analyzed phenes show a significant dependence on the habitat conditions. The expression rates of middorsal stripe, as well as the coloration of femur and tibia depend mostly on water bodies' contamination level. The increasing level of chemical contamina tion changes the ratios of alternative variants of middorsal stripe, and coloration of femur and tibia. New variants in coloration of femur and tibia that have never been described were noticed. Pelophylax individuals from the most contaminated water bodies (Cholgyni, Perekalky and Zhovtantsi) showed the highest variability by the analyzed phenes.
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