Sex-related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians

Sex-related differences in mortality are widespread in the animal kingdom. Although studies have shown that sex determination systems might drive lifespan evolution, sex chromosome influence on aging rates have not been investigated so far, likely due to an apparent lack of demographic data from clades including both XY (with heterogametic males) and ZW (heterogametic females) systems. Taking advantage of a unique collection of capture-recapture datasets in amphibians, a vertebrate group where XY and ZW systems have repeatedly evolved over the past 200 million years, we examined whether sex heterogamy can predict sex differences in aging rates and lifespans. We showed that the strength and direction of sex differences in aging rates (and not lifespan) differ between XY and ZW systems. Sex-specific variation in aging rates was moderate within each system, but aging rates tended to be consistently higher in the heterogametic sex. This led to small but detectable effects of sex chromosome system on sex differences in aging rates in our models. Although preliminary, our results suggest that exposed recessive deleterious mutations on the X/Z chromosome (the "unguarded X/Z effect") or repeat-rich Y/W chromosome (the "toxic Y/W effect") could accelerate aging in the heterogametic sex in some vertebrate clades.Peer reviewe

AGE DETERMINATION AND GROWTH PARAMETERS OF TRITURUS ANATOLICUS (CAUDATA: SALAMANDRIDAE)

This study presents data on the demographic structure of Triturus anatolicus in Torkul Lake in the Province of Duzce, Turkey. Field studies were conducted during the peak of the reproductive season from 2017 to 2019. A total of 51 samples (phalangeal bones from 13 males, 35 females and three sub-adults) were collected to determine the demographic structure of the population by skeletochronology. Snout-vent length (SVL) was 72.03 +/- 2.79 mm (min-max: 67-78 mm) in males and 73.12 +/- 4.59 mm (min-max: 63-84 mm) in females, where the difference was not statistically significant. The sexual dimorphism index was 0.01 and it was found to be female-biased. The mean age of females was 5.94 +/- 1.85 years and the mean age of males was 5.77 +/- 1.79 years. The minimum reproductive age was three years in both sexes. The maximum observed age was ten years for females and nine years for males. Our results were compared with literature data, and Triturus anatolicus showed a similar pattern on agestructure with cognate species. We found that the high survival rates of the Torkul Lake population (female = 0.81; male = 0.77) may result from a low human interference and favourable climatic conditions.Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit BAP [2018FEBE071]This study was a part of the first author MSc thesis. The permissions for field work, handling and laboratory studies of the amphibians were issued by the Animal Ethics Committee of Pamukkale University, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and Natural Parks and Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. We would like to thank the Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit BAP (2018FEBE071) for their support during this study. Additionally, we are grateful to Ayfer Sirin for the assistance in the field and laboratory studies

Age structure of stranded Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Turkey

The Mediterranean coast of Turkey includes important nesting beaches and marine habitats for the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta). We studied the demographic structure of this population by applying the skeletochronological method on stranded individuals. The mean age of stranded turtles was 27.0 +/- 3.83 years for females (N=10) and 40.1 +/- 14.97 years for males (N=7). The age of first reproduction was 23 years with a curved carapace length (CCL) of 61 cm for females and 21 years with a 67.5 cm CCL for males. The oldest observed female was 34 years old with a 67.8 cm CCL, while the oldest male was 59 years old with a 77.0 cm CCL. Incidental capture in fishing gear (60%) and marine vessel collisions (24%) were determined as the main causes of stranding

AGE STRUCTURE AND LIFE EXPECTANCY IN A Stellagama stellio (LINNAEUS, 1758) POPULATION FROM KuTAHYA, TURKEY

The life history traits of the rough-tailed agama, Stellagama stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) in a population from Kutahya, Turkey were described by the skeletochronological method. From a total of 54 individuals, the mean ages +/- standard deviation (SD) of males and females were calculated as 5.03 +/- 2.076 years and 4.79 +/- 1.584 years, respectively, and age distributions were not significantly different between sexes. The age at maturity was 2 years for both sexes. The longevity of females was 8 years, whereas for males it was 9 years. Mean snout-vent length (SVL) +/- SD was 101.7 +/- 9.6 mm in females and 104.9 +/- 14.4 mm in males and did not significantly differ between the two sexes. We examined the sexual dimorphism of S. stellio in relation to the difference in population age structure between the sexes using the skeletochronological method. Male individuals were slightly larger than female individuals at the same age, but this difference was not statistically significant. We also estimated the maximum ages for S. stellio, which agree with other populations in Turkey.Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Kutahya Dumlupynar University [2017-74]This research was supported by a grant from Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Kutahya Dumlupynar University (Project No. 2017-74)

Male-biased in-water population of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in Dalyan, Turkey as a possible important marine turtle area in the Mediterranean

In this study, we present the first in-water monitoring results of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Koycegiz-Dalyan specially protected area (SPA), Turkey. The capture-mark-recapture (CMR) study encompassed a total of 113 capture events of 88 individuals across two sampling years. The majority of the population was adults (88.6%) with a highly male-biased (70.5%) sex ratio. Our results indicate that some of the overwintering individuals also contribute to the nesting population in the region. Biometric characteristics of captured individuals were also presented. Additionally, we found the population to be under heavy anthropogenic threats with 54.5% of the captured individuals exhibiting results of previous anthropogenically caused injuries. Our results suggest that Koycegiz-Dalyan SPA is an important overwintering and foraging area for loggerhead turtles, which is currently an indexed nesting site for loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. Given the possible feminization effects of climate change on future marine turtle populations, the male-biased population in the study area is of the greatest importance, and together with having an indexed nesting site, the area should therefore be regarded as an important marine turtle area.Pamukkale University Research Fund [2015FBE056]; US Fish and Wildlife Service: Marine Turtle Conservation Fund [F16AP00185, F17AP00193]; General Directorate for Protection of Natural Assets of the Ministry of Environment and UrbanisationWe would like to thank to General Directorate for Protection of Natural Assets of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation for their support for the monitoring and research during the study period. We would also like to thank all the volunteers of DEKAMER and the students of the Veterinary Department of Pamukkale University, Acipayam Vocational School, and three anonymous reviewers and editor for their suggestions to improve the manuscript. This work was supported by the Pamukkale University Research Fund (2015FBE056). In-water research were also supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service: Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (F16AP00185 and F17AP00193)

Age and Body Size of the Endemic and Critically Endangered Frog Species Rana tavasensis (Baran and Atatür, 1986) in Türkiye

This study used skeletochronology to assess the relationships between age and body length among individuals in a population of the Tavas Frog (Rana tavasensis), located in the ; Ccedil;ak ; imath;roluk plateau, Tavas district, Denizli province. The age varied from 3 to 12 years in both adult males and females. The age was 2 years in two subadult males, while it was 1 year in one juvenile specimen. The mean SVL and age of the adult individuals of the ; Ccedil;ak ; imath;roluk population were 62.75 mm and 6.70 years in male specimens and 58.04 mm and 6.12 years in female specimens. A positive correlation was found between body size (SVL) and age in adult female and male individuals of the species. Because the number of individuals of the species is rapidly decreasing, species protection measures, based on knowledge related to the age structure and breeding features of these frogs, must be put into action urgently

Distribution and habitat suitability of two neighboring Lycian salamanders

Lyciasalamandra fazilae and Lyciasalamandra flavimembris are two Endangered and endemic species which occur only in Mugla province of Turkey. In protecting an endemic or endangered species, the first step is to understand its potential and/or known distribution. Therefore, we used the Maximum Entropy modelling software (MaxEnt) to analyze the current potential distribution and most important habitat features associated with the localities of these two species. The variables with the highest contributions to the model were: Bedrock, Precipitation of Coldest Quarter, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index for L. flavimembris; and Bedrock, Temperature Seasonality, Precipitation Seasonality, and Precipitation of Coldest Quarter for L. fazilae. We also identified two new localities for L. flavimembris using the habitat suitability model.Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit-BAP [2013FEBE046, 2019FEBE062]Acknowledgements.-This study was a part of the first author's M.Sc. thesis. The permission for field work, handling, and laboratory studies of the salamanders were issued by the Animal Ethics Committee of Pamukkale University, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and Natural Parks, and the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock. We would like to thank Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit-BAP (2013FEBE046 and 2019FEBE062) for their support during this study. We would also like to thank Hasan Paal, Ebru Tong, and Hakan Korbalta for their support in the field studies; and Ayfer Sirin, Fatih Polat, and Doan Sozbilen for their assistance in the field and laboratory studies

Climate change and the fate of endemic Beysehir Frog, Pelophylax caralitanus

Global warming and the decline in precipitation threaten wetlands worldwide, and lakes in some regions are in the process of drying. Amphibians, since they are water-dependent, will be the creatures most affected by the rapid habitat losses due to climate change. Especially for amphibian species which are endemic, the situation will be more serious in terms of its impact on biodiversity. Therefore, in this study, we determined the climate characteristics specific to the habitats of an endemic amphibian species, Pelophylax caralitanus. According to the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) climate change scenarios of the ICPP, we analyzed whether the climatic characteristics specific to these habitats will exist in 2050 and 2070 under the criteria of RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, and RCP 8.5. The results are quite alarming for Pelophylax caralitanus. According to the RCP climate change scenarios, the climatic conditions in the present habitats of this endemic amphibian species will not remain stable in that the potential habitats in Southwestern Anatolia will be dramatically reduced and the appropriate habitats of P. caralitanus around the Turkish Lake District will completely disappear, while some new potential habitats will emerge in the Northwest Aegean region of Turkey.Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit-BAP [2010BSP017]This research was supported by Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit-BAP (Project No: 2010BSP017). The permissions for field work and handling of the frogs were issued by the Animal Ethics Committee of Pamukkale University (Pamukkale, Turkey) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and Natural Parks (Ankara, Turkey)

Factors affecting the temporal distribution and hatching success of loggerhead turtle nests at Dalyan Beach, Turkey

4th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles. Naples-Italy. 07-10 Novamber 2011