Interannual variation in life history traits between neighbouring populations of the widespread amphibian Bufo bufo

Life-history variation within and among populations of widespread amphibian species has attracted much attention so far. In relation to a variety of problems (e.g. climate change, large-scale clines, conservation), this information is needed not only on broad geographic scale, but also at local level and from year to year. In this study, we investigated variation in body size and life history traits, including age, fecundity and egg size, in two neighbouring populations of a widespread amphibian, the Common Toad Bufo bufo, during a 3-year period. Body size varied significantly between populations in males only, but not between years. Age was assessed by skeletochronology, and osteometrical analyses revealed a complete endosteal resorption of the first line of arrested growth in 1.1 % of the individuals and a partial resorption in 77 % of the individuals. Age structures did not differ significantly between sexes, populations, nor between years. Age at first reproduction was one year later in females than in males in both populations (4 vs 3 years), but adult survival rates did not differ between sexes. Fecundity did not differ between populations or years, but egg size varied between years. Fecundity increased with size, but not with age of females. This lack of significant interpopulation variation in age structure and reproductive traits is important for monitoring local populations which can be exposed to various potential disturbance factors. On the other hand, these results stress the importance of analysing temporal variation in life history traits because one-year data may not represent properly the reproductive features of a population, and this issue is becoming more so important with the growing interest in climate changes and its possible effects on amphibian populationsLes variations intra- et interpopulationnelles des traits d'histoire de vie chez les amphibiens à grande aire de répartition font l'objet d'une attention soutenue. Pour de nombreux problèmes (e.g. les changements climatiques, variations clinales, conservation), cette information est nécessaire, non seulement à une large échelle géographique, mais aussi au niveau local et d'une année à une autre. Dans cette étude nous avons étudié durant trois années successives les variations de la taille corporelle, de l'âge et des traits d'histoire de vie, y compris la fécondité et la taille des oeufs, dans deux populations voisines du Crapaud commun Bufo bufo, une espèce à grande aire de répartition. La taille corporelle des mâles varie significativement entre les populations mais pas d'une année à une autre. L'âge a été déterminé par squelettochronologie et les analyses ostéologiques révèlent une résorption endostéale complète de la première ligne d'arrêt de croissance chez 1,1 % des individus et une résorption partielle chez 77 % des individus. Les structures d'âge ne différent pas entre les sexes, les populations, ni entre les années. Les femelles se reproduisent pour la première fois un an après les mâles dans les deux populations (4 vs 3 ans), mais le taux de survie des adultes ne diffère pas entre les sexes. La fécondité ne varie pas entre les populations ou les années, mais la taille des oeufs change d'une année à une autre. La fécondité augmente avec la taille, mais pas avec l'âge des femelles. Cette absence de variation de la structure d'âge et des paramètres de la reproduction est importante pour la surveillance des populations locales qui peuvent être exposées à divers facteurs de perturbation potentiels. Ces résultats soulignent également l'importance d'analyser les variations temporelles des traits d'histoire de vie car les données d'une année peuvent ne pas représenter correctement les caractéristiques de la reproduction d'une population, cette question étant exacerbée par l'intérêt croissant sur l'impact possible des changements climatiques sur les populations d'amphibiens

Reassessment of red list status of european amphibians

Peer reviewe

Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene

The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence‐based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian declines, there remain knowledge gaps and disconnects between science and action that hamper our ability to advance conservation efforts. Using input from participants at the ninth World Congress of Herpetology, a U.S. Geological Survey Powell Center symposium, amphibian on‐line forums for discussion, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Gamete Biobanking group, and respondents to a survey, we developed a list of 25 priority research questions for amphibian conservation at this stage of the Anthropocene. We identified amphibian conservation research priorities while accounting for expected tradeoffs in geographic scope, costs, and the taxonomic breadth of research needs. We aimed to solicit views from individuals rather than organizations while acknowledging inequities in participation. Emerging research priorities (i.e., those under‐represented in recently published amphibian conservation literature) were identified, and included the effects of climate change, community‐level (rather than single species‐level) drivers of declines, methodological improvements for research and monitoring, genomics, and effects of land‐use change. Improved inclusion of under‐represented members of the amphibian conservation community was also identified as a priority. These research needs represent critical knowledge gaps for amphibian conservation although filling these gaps may not be necessary for many conservation actions

A reinvestigation of phylogeny and divergence times of the Ablepharus kitaibelii species complex (Sauria, Scincidae) based on mtDNA and nuDNA genes

Morphological and DNA data support that the East Mediterranean snake-eyed skink Ablepharus kitaibelii represents a species complex that includes four species A. kitaibelii, A. budaki, A. chernovi, and A. rueppellii, highlighting the need of its taxonomic reevaluation. Here, we used Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of all members of the complex based on two mitochondria) (cyt b, 16S rRNA) and two nuclear markers (MCI R, and NKTR) and using Chalcides, Eumeces, and Eutropis as outgroups. The biogeographic history of the complex was also investigated through the application of several phylogeographic (BEAST) and biogeographic (BBM) analyses. Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic data were used to support the inferred phylogeographic patterns. The A. kitaibelli species complex exhibits high genetic diversity, revealing cases of hidden diversity and cases of nonmonophyletic species such as A. kitaibelii and A. budaki. Our results indicate that A. pannonicus branches off first and a group that comprises specimens of A. kitaibelli and A. budaki from Kastelorizo Island group (southeast Greece) and southwest Turkey, respectively is differentiated from the rest A. kitaibelli and A. budaki populations and may represent a new species. The estimated divergence times place the origin of the complex in the Middle Miocene (similar to 16 Mya) and the divergence of most currently recognized species in the Late Miocene. The inferred ancestral distribution suggests that the complex originated in Anatolia, supposing that several vicariance and dispersal events that are related with the formation of the Mid-Aegean Trench, the Anatolian Diagonal and the orogenesis of the mountain chains in southern and eastern Anatolia have led to current distribution pattern of A. kitaibelii species complex in the Balkans and Middle East. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Evolutionary divergence of the smooth snake (Serpentes, Colubridae): The role of the Balkans and Anatolia

The smooth snake Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768) is distributed across the western Palearctic throughout north-central, southern Europe and western Asia. So far, only few phylogenetic studies, based on mitochondrial DNA, have been carried out on this species focusing mainly on the Iberian Peninsula and northern Europe, leaving unstudied some of important areas of its distribution. This study aims to cover this gap and to explore the phylogenetic relationships between the populations of in the Eastern Mediterranean and to detect possible historical refugia. With this objective, total genomic DNA was extracted from samples originated from the Balkans, Anatolia and a large part of Europe. Two mitochondrial (cyt b, 16S) and six nuclear (BDNF, NKTR, RAG1, RAG2, MC1R and PRLR) markers were combined for phylogenetic and chronophylogenetic analyses. The different analyses confirmed previous phylogeographic hypothesis showing the presence of several well-supported clades distributed in Anatolia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula and cryptic diversity within Anatolia and the Balkans. Moreover, dating analysis confirmed the diversification of the species during the Pleistocene, as well as the role of the Southern Balkans and Anatolia region as refugia during this period