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Knowledge on life history traits and population dynamics of amphibians from northeastern Anatolia is limited. This results in a heavy reliance on published data regarding the European and Caucasian counterparts of the Anatolian populations in local conservation studies. The present study evaluated the phenology, age structure, population size, and population structure of the amphibian community in Lake Çıldır, northeastern Anatolia, Turkey. The site was surveyed between April 2017 and July 2019, detecting the presence of Bufo verrucosissimus, Bufotes viridis sitibundus, Pelophylax ridibundus, and Rana macrocnemis. The estimated population size ranged from 553 to 789 individuals for P. ridibundus and from 404 to 655 individuals for R. macrocnemis. The estimated mean capture probability was 0.09-0.10 for P. ridibundus and 0.08-0.11 for R. macrocnemis. The mean survival rates were estimated at 0.40-0.60 for P. ridibundus and 0.24-0.56 for R. macrocnemis. A male-biased sex ratio was observed for all species. The mean age was estimated at 5.28 years (2-9) for P. ridibundus, 4.32 years (2-6) for R. macrocnemis, and 5.55 years (3-9) for B. viridis sitibundus. Depending on weather conditions, the amphibian species emerged from brumation in the second half of April, and the breeding period took place between the end of April and June. The metamorphosis was attained in 55-125 days for P. ridibundus, 44-124 days for R. macrocnemis, and 56-128 days for B. viridis sitibundus, depending on weather conditions. The amphibian community of Lake Çıldır comprises healthy frog and toad populations, whose primary threats appear to be weather fluctuations and climate change. In contrast to their western Anatolian conspecifics, the studied amphibians suffered limited habitat loss and degradation, rendering them effective candidates as indicator species for climate change studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frogs have been harvested from the wild for the last 40 years in Turkey. We analysed the population dynamics of Anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) in the Seyhan and Ceyhan Deltas during 2013–2015. We marked a total of 13,811 individuals during 3 years, estimated population sizes, simulated the dynamics of a harvested population over 50 years, and collated frog harvest and export statistics from the region and for Turkey as a whole. Our capture estimates indicated a population reduction of c. 20% per year, and our population modelling showed that, if overharvesting continues at current rates, the harvested populations will decline rapidly. Simulations with a model of harvested population dynamics resulted in a risk of extinction of > 90% within 50 years, with extinction likely in c. 2032. Our interviews with harvesters revealed their economic dependence on the frog harvest. However, our results also showed that reducing harvest rates would not only ensure the viability of these frog populations but would also provide a source of income that is sustainable in the long term. Our study provides insights into the position of Turkey in the 'extinction domino' line, in which harvest pressure shifts among countries as frog populations are depleted and harvest bans are effected. We recommend that harvesting of wild frogs should be banned during the mating season, hunting and exporting of frogs < 30 g should be banned, and harvesters should be trained on species knowledge and awareness of regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]