Autori: Hartel, T

Editorial: Eluned Price, Herpetological Journal, 18(1), p.40-44, 2008.

Rezumat:

As ectotherm vertebrates, amphibians are sensitive to weather conditions. Weather conditions may influence the start of the breeding season, body condition, and survival during the winter. If the climatic conditions changes at large spatial and temporal scale, this can have adverse effects on amphibians including susceptibility to disease. In this study, I recorded the start of the breeding season (males and females separately) and monitored population size in a Rana dalmatina population over an 11-year period. I found no indication of an early extension of the breeding season or of significant population trends. Initiation of breeding and the size of the population were significantly negatively correlated with temperature and precipitation in February. The rate of change in the egg mass number seems to be influenced by density. This result suggests that if the climate change results in drier springs, this population of R. dalmatina may be adversely affected.

Cuvinte cheie: Rana dalmatina, breeding, population fluctuation, climatic conditions, Tarnava Mare basin, Romania