Long-Term Dynamics of the Size-Weight and Sexual Structure in Populations of Pelobates Fuscus (Anura, Pelobatidae) in the Medveditsa River Valley (Saratov Region)

Yermokhin, M. V.; Tabachishin, V. G.; Ivanov, G. A.

doi:10.18500/1814-6090-2016-16-3-4-113-122

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The movement of Pelobates vespertinus during their spawning migrations usually occurs round the clock (Yermokhin et al, 2013b). Most sexually mature individuals of this species live at distances of no longer than 600 m from their spawning water body (Blab, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The start date of spawning migration of Pelobates vespertinus in a specific population is also determined by the freezing depth of the soil at their wintering sites and the spring dynamics of its thawing. The depth of individuals during their wintering also largely depends on the former factor (Yermokhin et al, 2013a). The main parameters determining soil freezing depth obviously include the date of establishment of the snow cover, its height, features of the temperature course during the period before the establishment of the snow cover, and the temperature regime during winter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main parameters determining soil freezing depth obviously include the date of establishment of the snow cover, its height, features of the temperature course during the period before the establishment of the snow cover, and the temperature regime during winter. In years with various winter weather conditions, the maximum soil freezing depth in the wintering areas of P. vespertinus can differ significantly and can vary from 0.8–2.0 m in the study region (Yermokhin et al, 2013b). The dynamics of soil thawing in the wintering areas of P. vespertinus, in turn, depends on features of the snow cover accumulation during the cold season and its spring disappearance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental Predictors of the Onset of Spawning Migration in Pelobates vespertinus (Anura: Pelobatidae)

Yermokhin,

Tabachishin

2023

South American Journal of Herpetology

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The dates of the onset of spawning migrations of local populations of Pelobates vespertinus (the Pallas spadefoot toad) in the Medveditsa river valley (Russia, Saratov Region) were determined in 2009−2019. It was found that the minimum threshold value of the water temperature in every spawning water body corresponding to the arrival of first individuals of the species to their spawning area was 4.5℃. Moreover, according to the nearest weather station's long-term forecast of air temperature, the average daily water temperature at the spawning site was calculated, equal to the average daily air temperature over 10 d. By analyzing the dynamics of this indicator, the dates of a steady transition of water temperature through its threshold value (4.5℃) were calculated. This date was considered the predicted start date of P. vespertinus spawning migrations. Any deviation of the actual start date of spawning migrations from the predicted one did not exceed 3 d for 11 years. The lead time for predicting the actual start date of migrations is positively related to the water temperature increase rate. During the study period, the lead time of the forecast was 6−18 d (12 d on the average). Our historical reconstruction of the long-term dynamics of the water temperature increase rate from weather archives and the forecast lead time (according to a model describing their relationship) in 1892−2008 showed that these parameters had no significant intra-century trend against the background of global climate warming. Our proposed method for predicting the start date of spawning migrations can be recommended for use in planning any research on P. vespertinus populations, ecosystem processes, and species conservation measures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental Predictors of the Onset of Spawning Migration in Pelobates vespertinus (Anura: Pelobatidae)

Yermokhin,

Tabachishin

2023

South American Journal of Herpetology

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“…However, the low-water phase of the 36-38-year Brickner water cycle, characteristic of regions with a continental climate (Shnitnikov, 1950), lasts much longer at the beginning of the 21 st century than was typical for similar periods in the previous century. Therefore, during 2010-2017, against the background of significant changes in the size, weight and sex structure (Yermokhin et al, 2016) the degradation of many local populations even of this terrestrial species is possible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure Transformation of the Anuran Amphibian Spawning Communities in Floodplain Lakes of the Medveditsa River Valley (Saratov Region) under Conditions of Long-Term Reduction of Water Content

Yermokhin¹,

Ivanov²,

Tabachishin³

2018

PJE

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The structure of spawning taxocenoses of anuran amphibians in five floodplain lakes of the Medveditsa river valley in 2009-2018 is analysed. Two near-terrace lakes (Lebyazhye and Koblovo) and three lakes of the central floodplain (Sadok, Kruglen'koye, and Cherepashie) were used as model ones. The degradation of the populations of the three most numerous species, a decrease in the dominance degree of the common spadefoot toad were established. Degradation is more characteristic of species with a longerer distance of spawning migrations-the severity of changes consistently decreases in the row of species: Pelophylax ridibundus → Pelobates fuscus → Bombina bombina. Indices of the structure of amphibian communities in the near-terrace lakes Lebyazhye and Koblovo were stable. Against the background of low water content and unstable hydrological regime of the central floodplain lakes with a survey duration of five or more years, three periods were established to characterize the structure of spawning amphibian taxocenoses, namely: a stable structure, a sharp decrease in dominance and an increase in evenness, and an increase in the variability of the main attributes of the structure. At the end of the third period, which characterizes the structure of taxocenoses, some stabilization of the main parameters was noted with an extremely low number of mature individuals of all amphibian species. The high level of spring flood of the Medveditsa river in 2018 determined the beginning of the exit from the abnormally long period of low water content of the spawning lakes in the floodplain (from 2009 till 2017) and their functioning in the hydrological regime as temporary water bodies. The sudden increase in water content of the floodplain lakes and the extension of their hydroperiod allow the beginning of the recovery process of the population size and community structure of anuran amphibians to be noted.

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Sexual dimorphism of the Pallas spadefoot toad (Pelobates vespertinus: Anura, Pelobatidae) metamorphs is reduced when tadpoles are developed in an overheated water body

Yermokhin,

Tabachishin

2024

Povolžskij èkologičeskij žurnal

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Our survey was carried out in five local populations of Pelobates vespertinus (Pallas, 1771) in the floodplain of the Medveditsa river (Russia, Saratov region, Lysogorsky district) in 2009–2018. We have found that the sexual dimorphism in body length (SDIL) and weight (SDIW) of males and females of the Pallas spadefoot toad is a widespread feature of populations of this anuran amphibian species, characteristic not only among sexually mature individuals, but also among metamorphs. In metamorph populations, sexual dimorphism averages 3% and 9% in body length and live weight, respectively. It is less pronounced in metamorphs than in sexually matured individuals (by 3 and 4.5 times, respectively). The sexual dimorphism development level may undergo a significant transformation by temperature conditions during the tadpole development period in the spawning lake. The threshold value of the average temperature for the period of development up to the stage of metamorphosis (MDT90), at which any differences between males and females in body length are lost in metamorphs, is 18.2ºС. Against the background of climate warming over the past decade (2011–2020), there has been a significant expansion of the range area of this species, which is exposed to abnormally high water temperatures. Nevertheless, size–weight sexual dimorphism, even at the stage of metamorphosis, should hardly be excluded from the list of diagnostic characters of the species.

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Long-Term Dynamics of the Size-Weight and Sexual Structure in Populations of Pelobates Fuscus (Anura, Pelobatidae) in the Medveditsa River Valley (Saratov Region)

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Environmental Predictors of the Onset of Spawning Migration in Pelobates vespertinus (Anura: Pelobatidae)

Environmental Predictors of the Onset of Spawning Migration in Pelobates vespertinus (Anura: Pelobatidae)

Structure Transformation of the Anuran Amphibian Spawning Communities in Floodplain Lakes of the Medveditsa River Valley (Saratov Region) under Conditions of Long-Term Reduction of Water Content

Sexual dimorphism of the Pallas spadefoot toad (Pelobates vespertinus: Anura, Pelobatidae) metamorphs is reduced when tadpoles are developed in an overheated water body

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