Morphological variability and age structure in a population of Bufo verrucosissimus (Anura: Bufonidae) from Artvin, Turkey

Morphological variability and age structure in a population of Bufo verrucosissimus (Anura: Bufonidae) from Artvin, Turkey. We investigated morphological diversity (external body traits, coloration patterns and skin structure) and age structure in a population of Caucasian toad (Bufo verrucosissimus) from Lake Bor??ka Karag??l, situated in the vicinity of Artvin on the northeastern border of Turkey and Georgia. Age was determined using phalangeal skeletochronology. The external morphological variability was assessed using the linear measurement of 27 body-related characters and the photographs of each specimen. According to the results, the means of head length and head width were found significantly lower in-arag??l population as opposed to Caucasian populations, but average body size did not differ among all populations. Coloration and pattern features of the specimens from Karag??l were identical to those of Caucasia. Most of the females have brown tones and males are usually olive green and brown. The indiscrete elongated dark bands on parotoids did not extend behind the gland. 2C# analysis confirmed a clear separation between the sexes and a high degree of female-biased sexual size dimorphism was determined based on the body size (SDI index: +0.41). The constructed Von Bertalanffy growth curve models yielded similar profiles in both sexes. Body size and age were significantly correlated in both models, but growth coefficient value was higher in males. Accordingly, the mean age of the Karag??l population is greater in both sexes, but the lifespan and maximum age are greater in Caucasus populations

Morphological variability and age structure in a population of Bufo verrucosissimus (Anura: Bufonidae) from Artvin, Turkey

Investigamos a diversidade morfológica (características externas do corpo, padrões de coloração e estrutura da pele) e estrutura etária em uma população do sapo caucasiano Bufo verrucosissimus do Lago Borçka Karagöl, situado nas proximidades de Artvin, no nordeste da fronteira da Turquia com a Geórgia. A idade foi determinada utilizando esqueletocronologia falageal. A variabilidade morfológica externa foi avaliada utilizando a medida linear de 27 caracteres relacionados ao corpo e fotografias de cada espécime. De acordo com os resultados, as médias do comprimento e largura da cabeça foram significativamente menores na população de Karagöl do que nas populações caucasianas, mas o tamanho médio do corpo não foi diferente entre as populações. As características de coloração e padrão dos espécimes de Karagöl foram idênticas às do Cáucaso. A maioria das fêmeas apresenta tons castanhos, e os machos são geralmente verde oliva e castanhos. As faixas escuras alongadas não se estendem por alémde  das glândulas paratóides. A análise PCA confirmou uma separação clara entre os sexos, e um elevado grau de dimorfismo sexual nas fêmeas foi determinado com base no tamanho do corpo (índice SDI: +0,41). Os modelos construídos de curva de crescimento de Von Bertalanffy produziram perfis semelhantes em ambos os sexos. O tamanho do corpo e a idade foram significativamente correlacionados em ambos os modelos, mas o valor do coeficiente de crescimento foi mais elevado nos machos. Consequentemente, a idade média da população de Karagöl é mais elevada em ambos os sexos, mas a expectativa de vida e a idade máxima são maiores nas populações do Cáucaso.We investigated morphological diversity (external body traits, coloration patterns and skin structure) and age structure in a population of Caucasian toad (Bufo verrucosissimus) from Lake Borçka Karagöl, situated in the vicinity of Artvin on the northeastern border of Turkey and Georgia. Age was determined using phalangeal skeletochronology. The external morphological variability was assessed using the linear measurement of 27 body-related characters and the photographs of each specimen. According to the results, the means of head length and head width were found significantly lower in Karagöl population as opposed to Caucasian populations, but average body size did not differ among all populations. Coloration and pattern features of the specimens from Karagöl were identical to those of Caucasia. Most of the females have brown tones and males are usually olive green and brown. The indiscrete elongated dark bands on parotoids did not extend behind the gland. PCA analysis confirmed a clear separation between the sexes and a high degree of female-biased sexual size dimorphism was determined based on the body size (SDI index: +0.41). The constructed Von Bertalanffy growth curve models yielded similar profiles in both sexes. Body size and age were significantly correlated in both models, but growth coefficient value was higher in males. Accordingly, the mean age of the Karagöl population is greater in both sexes, but the lifespan and maximum age are greater in Caucasus populations

Morphological comparison of Bufo Bufo and Bufo verrucosissimus species in Turkey

Bu tez çalışmasının amacı Türkiye'de dağılım gösteren Bufo cinsine ait olan Bufo bufo (Linneaus, 1758) ve Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) türleri arasındaki morfolojik farklılıkların belirlenmesidir. Çalışma kapsamında, Türkiye genelinde 25 farklı ilden örnekleme yapılmıştır. Örneklenen 193 (96 +, 97 >) bireyden 36 farklı değişene ait morfolojik ölçümler alınarak bireyler hem cinsiyet hem de tür bazında istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırılmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgularda, dişi bireylerin erkeklere nazaran daha büyük vücut yapısına, büyük bir başa, dar açılı ve divergent durumlu parotidler ile başın her iki yanında daha fazla sıklıkta keratinli siğillere sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, Bufo verrucosissimus türüne ait erkek ve dişi bireylerin Bufo bufo türüne ait erkek ve dişi bireylerden daha büyük bir baş yapısına ve daha uzun iç metatarsal tüberküllere sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Parotid açıları, parotidlerin durumu ve keratinli siğiller bakımından ise herhangi bir farklılık bulunmamıştır. Sonuç olarak yapılan bu çalışmada türlerin morfolojik olarak çoğu karakter bakımından benzer olduğu, türler arasında yalnızca baş yapısı ve iç metatarsal tüberkül bakımından farklılıklar bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir. In this thesis, it is aimed to determine morphological differences between Bufo bufo (Linneaus, 1758) and Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) species belonging to the genus Bufo. Within the context of this study, 193 (96 +, 97 >) individuals were sampled from 25 different provinces. These individuals were measured in terms of 36 different morphological characters and compared statistically between sexes and species. According to findings, it was found that females are bigger than males in terms of head and general body structure, their parotoids are more divergent and have narrower angle and more keratinized spines on the both sides of head. Besides, it was found that the individuals, in both sexes, of Bufo verrucosissimus have a bigger head and longer inner metatarsal tubercles than the individuals of Bufo bufo. There was no difference between species in terms of parotoid angle, parotoid divergence and keratinized spines. As a result of this study, it was found that both species are morphologically similar and differences between species are related to the head structure and inner metatarsal tubercle

Easternmost distribution of Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) in Türkiye: implications for the putative contact zone between B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus

The geographic range of a species is crucial for obtaining information on the exact distribution of the species. The geographic data are important for delimiting distinct species or exploring the degree of diferentiation among diferent populations of a species. The local details of species boundaries facilitate the study of the importance of phylogeographic background, secondary contacts, and hybrid zones, along with the relations between the species and its extrinsic environmental factors. In the present study, the range boundaries of Bufo bufo and Bufo verrucosissimus in the north-eastern region of Türkiye were delineated using an integrative taxonomic approach that utilized a combination of molecular and morphological data. According to the mtDNA results of the present study, B. bufo inhabits a single distribution from İyidere town to Çayeli town in Rize, while B. verrucosissimus is distributed from Şavşat town of Artvin to Ardeşen town in Rize. In addition, the two species coexist in Pazar, Hemşin, and Çamlıhemşin towns in Rize. The demographic analyses indicated a distinct population expansion for the B. verrucosissimus species after the Last Glacial Maximum, while the same did not occur for B. bufo. The univariate and multivariate statistical analyses conducted for the morphological data of the two species corroborated the presence of a putative contact zone between B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus. In summary, the present study resolved the non-distinct geographic boundaries between B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus species and also revealed the easternmost distribution of B. bufo in Türkiye. In addition, important evidence on the putative contact zone between the two species was indicated using an integrative taxonomic approach

Sexual size and shape dimorphism in Turkish common toads (Bufo bufo Linnaeus 1758)

Differences in male and female traits (sexual dimorphism [SD]) are widespread in animals. Dimorphism in morphological characters evolves under the effect of environmental and genetic factors and is shaped by natural and sexual selection. In this study, intersexual differences in size and shape in common toad, Bufo bufo, populations in Turkey were investigated. For this, linear measurements of 27 body-related morphometric characters in a sample of 140 individuals (70 males and 70 females) were compiled. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. The results show SD in body size with females having larger body size, a trait related with fecundity and thus probably under sexual selection. Body shape differences, which are associated with head width and dorsal head, are likely to prey size. Male-biased differences observed in nasal characters and tympanum may also be associated with sexual selection (male-male competition). Our findings are consistent with previous studies of major of Anura and support a role for selection pressures acting differentially upon individuals from both sexes, resulting in the evolution of sexually dimorphic traits

Sexual shape dimorphism in Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) from Lake Borçka Karagöl, Türkiye

Sexual dimorphism, i.e., differences in morphology between sexes of a species caused by intersexual differences in the strength or direction of sexual or natural selection, is prevalent throughout the animal kingdom. Contrary to differences in body size, little is known about sexual shape dimorphism in anurans. Here we investigated intersexual shape differences in Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) by taking 27 linear measurements to characterize body morphology of 23 males and 23 females. Relative to their overall body size, males had longer limbs and larger eyes, while females displayed larger parotoid glands and had wider heads. We speculate that these intersexual differences may have arisen due to differences in natural and sexual selection regimes acting on males and females, especially during foraging, mate searching, or intrasexual competition

Taxonomic assessment and distribution of common toads (Bufo bufo and B. verrucosissimus) in Turkey based on morphological and molecular data

gul, serkan/0000-0002-0372-7462WOS: 000546656200009The Bufo bufo species group includes four species distributed in the western Palearctic: B. bufo. B. eichwaldii, B. spinosus and B. verrucosissimus. Both B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus are known to occur in Turkey, but their range boundaries and the taxonomic status of B. verrucosissimus are still uncertain. in this study, we analyzed the variation in a set of morphological characters and in two mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA markers to address these questions. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data support two main Blades of common toads in Turkey, corresponding to B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus. the latter is subdivided into two allopatric subclades including populations along the Mediterranean and Black Sea coast, respectively. Discriminant analysis of morphological data showed separation among groups as defined by molecular analyses. We discuss these results and their implications for the evolutionary history of common toads in Turkey.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [114Z823]This work was supported by the TUB.ITAK with grant 114Z823. Sampling was carried out under permission of the local ethics committee for animal experiments (Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments, approval reference number: 2014/4). We thank O. Ozkan and E. Kizilhan for help in the laboratory and Dr. M. Z. Yildiz for providing specimens from Hatay. We lastly thank J. W. Arntzen for help the while writing manuscript

Interspecific and intraspecific size and shape variation in skull of two closely related species Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) and Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) from Turkey

Anurans are the most suitable vertebrate group to see the development and also evolution in the skull, compared to other terrestrial vertebrates as they show highly derived morphology. For this reason, the cranium of anurans has been widely used for analyzing e.g., development and integration, evolutionary history, phylogenetic relationships, sexual dimorphism; and for taxon determination. We applied geometric morphometric techniques and then multivariate statistical analyses to see the skull size and shape variations in closely related Bufo species (B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus) inhabiting Turkey. Females have larger skull than males for both species. Ventral skull size of males differed between species and within species (among populations) whereas dorsal skulls differed only among populations. In females, only size of ventral skull side differs only among populations. Dorsal skull shape differs between the species in male individuals, while in females both dorsal and ventral skulls show a significant variation among populations. Bufo bufo had larger squamousal than B. verrucosissimus, whereas B. verrucosissimus had longer maxilla but shorter occipital region than B. bufo for both males and females. Under the control of size, the shape of skull does not differ between species for both males and females. Due to structural and functional constraints because of having similar biological and physical properties of skeletal and muscle tissues, living in similar environments or shared evolutionary history, the size and shape of skulls are found to be similar between B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus in present study. However, in order to better reveal the skull variations between these two closely related species, more detailed studies with more samples on their morphology and ecology are required

Age Structure and Body Size Variation in Common Toad (Bufo bufo, Linnaeus 1758) from Three Different Altitudes in Turkey

gul, serkan/0000-0002-0372-7462WOS: 000478004100011We describe here for the first time the body size and age of the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) from high (Trabzon, 1090 m and Kastamonu, 925 m above sea level) and low (Yalova, 65 m above sea level) altitudes in Turkey using skeletochronology. the specimens from Trabzon were significantly smaller and younger than the ones from the Kastamonu and Yalova populations. Age at sexual maturity was three years for females while it varied between two to three years in males in all three populations. We found the females to be significantly larger than males in all three populations. the sexual dimorphism indices (SDI) were biased toward the female populations. Even after accounting for the influence of age, the snout-vent length (SVL) differed significantly among the populations. Age and SVL were closely correlated in the male populations for all the three localities (Yalova, Kastamonu, and Trabzon) and for female individuals in the Trabzon population. in this first report, we reveal the demographic structure of B. bufo from the Anatolia region in Turkey and provide comparative data regarding this species for further discussion and determined that age and body size of Common Toad not differentiated among different altitudes