Morphs in Populations Living in Conditions of Anthropogenic Pollution in Southern

Abstract

Basic haematological parameters were studied in adult, sexually mature individuals of colour morphs (striata and maculata) in the populations of Pelophylax ridibundus living in biotopes with various degrees of anthropogenic pollution (control, domestic sewage pollution and heavy metal pollution) in Southern Bulgaria. We found that in the polluted biotopes in individuals of both morphs of P. ridibundus the blood parameters: erythrocyte (RBC) and leukocyte (WBS) count, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), haematocrit (PCV) were statistically reliably higher, the number of lymphocytes (Ly) decreased, and the parameters: mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV) and differential blood formula changed considerably in comparison with the control group. In terms of anthropogenic pollution