Here we use a mark-and-recapture procedure using elastomers to determine movement patterns and microhabitat selection of western spadefoot toad tadpoles (Pelobates cultripes) in two large ponds in southwestern Spain. We observed maximum distances moved by these tadpoles of >67 m and >245 m, depending on the pond. These distances coincided with the maximum cross distance in each pond, suggesting that they could potentially move even farther in larger wetlands. Leer más.
The red-eared sliders that were captured had a healthy external appearance. However, the histopathological analyses revealed that up to 88% of these turtles had internal pathologies. The most common were hepatic lipidosis and chronic nephritis, which frequently co-occurred with each other or with pulmonary or pancreatic lesions. A high proportion of turtles were susceptible to infections caused by common bacteria in these habitats. We detected Herpesvirus, Mycoplasma spp. and more than 18 Gram-negative bacteria. The high prevalence of disease recorded in the two populations suggests that red-eared sliders are poorly suited to the conditions in their non-native range. Leer más.
After considering size effects, we found significant differences in body proportions between the sexes and across colour morphs, which suggests an important influence of lowland and montane habitats in shaping morphological variation. By contrast, head shape did not exhibit significant variation across sexes or colour morphs. Instead it was mainly associated to allometric variation, where the supraocular and the rear regions of the head were the areas that varied the most throughout growth and across individuals. Leer más.
We measured 7016 adult individuals captured in 41 populations, covering most of the species’ distribution in metropolitan France, including Corsica. Body size variation in our sample was wide and comparable to that found across the species’ worldwide range. Variation was similar in magnitude at regional and local levels, suggesting that body size is influenced by local factors as much as by regional factors such as climate or genetic lineage. Smaller sizes were associated with Mediterranean or altered oceanic climates, and with two lineages (E. o. galloitalica and E. o. galloitalica/E. o. orbicularis), while larger sizes were associated with northern environments and the orbicularis lineage. Leer más.
Ecologistes en Acció del País Valencià, dins la seua àrea de treball sobre biodiversitat, està elaborant una sèrie de documentals sobre biodiversitat, per tal d’educar i conscienciar la ciutadania sobre la importància de la nostra biodiversitat, les amenaces que pateix i la forma de protegir-la. Llancem el primer lliurament dedicat als rèptils del País Valencià, grup faunístic amb més de 24 representants que habiten en ambients tan diversos com els marins, els aiguamolls, els cultius, les muntanyes, les ciutats, etc. Ir al enlace.
