The life span of an individual is a critical life-history trait since it directly impacts on the number of breeding attempts, annual reproductive investment and lifetime reproductive success. Amphibians exhibit a large range in life spans from two years in some tropical frog species (Ramirez et al., 1998) to over 20 years in some Mediterranean salamanders (Warburg et al., 2007). Understanding longevity and variations between amphibian species has important conservation implications since long-lived species may be more vulnerable to habitat change and disturbance because they have lower annual reproductive output and are less able to compensate for increased mortality (Purvis et al., 2000). Amphibian species with very short lifespans are also highly vulnerable since they are prone to rapid population turnover and a single disturbance event can result in whole population extinction (Lehtinen & MacDonald, 2011). Leer más.

A study examining the impact of deforestation on lizard communities in the Dominican Republic demonstrates differing outcomes at different elevations. In the lowlands, deforestation reduces the number of individuals, but not which species occur in an area. In the highlands, it’s the opposite. When the forest is cut down at higher elevations, the newly created pastures become filled with species found in the warmer lowlands. But locally adapted mountain lizards cannot survive as temperature rises. Leer más.

É habitual que o mes de Fevereiro traia os primeiros dias soleados com temperaturas primaverais, aínda que este ano a cousa prolongóu-se mais do habitual. E isso notou-se na floraçom adiantada e na saída massiva do letargo que experimentárom moitos répteis, como o grande Lagarto arnal, tal coma puidem comprovar antontes no Monte de Chá, pertencente à parrróquia de Briom (Ferrol).

Es habitual que el mes de Febrero traiga los primeros días soleados con temperaturas primaverales, aunque este año la cosa se ha prolongado más de lo normal. Y eso se ha notado en la floración adelantada y en la salida del letargo que han experimentado muchos reptiles, como el gran Lagarto ocelado, tal como pude comprobar anteayer en el Monte de Chá, perteneciente a la parroquia de Brión (Ferrol). Leer más.