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Species that are threatened in their native range may actually prosper as introduced populations. To investigate how such introduced populations were established involves determining from where within the natural range the founder individuals originated. This can be accomplished through mtDNA barcoding. The common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) naturally occurs in the south and east of the Netherlands and has shown a rapid decline. Yet, a flourishing introduced population was recently discovered in the coastal dunes in the west of the country. We use mtDNA barcoding to determine the provenance of the introduced population. We sampled both native and introduced populations from the Netherlands and compared our sequences to haplotypes from across the entire distribution range. The mtDNA haplotypes found in the introduced population are distinct from those naturally occurring in the Netherlands and point towards an origin in the Pannonian Basin, on the boundary between Central and Southeastern Europe. Paradoxically, the thriving P. fuscus population in the Dutch coastal dunes should be considered a conservation risk to local biodiversity, even though within the native range in the Netherlands the species is severely threatened. Our study illustrates the complicated conservation questions associated with species that are both native and invasive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restructuring of the gaze stabilization system in Pelobates fuscus was investigated by quantitative analysis of the optomotor response using video imaging. Gaze stabilization is an important component in the system of neural mechanisms of visual depth perception. It was shown that the optomotor response in aquatic tadpoles of P. fuscus is similar to that of fish (movement of the animal in the direction of the visual background movement and eye nystagmus consisting of a fast and a slow phase). During metamorphosis (transition from the aquatic to the terrestrial lifestyle), froglets of P. fuscus responded to the movement of the visual background by eyes and head movements. One year after metamorphosis, P.fuscus responded to movement of the visual background as adult Anura: only by head movements (a slow and a fast phase), while eye movements were absent. Possible causes of the loss of active eye movements by Anura amphibians in the process of evolution are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background One third of the worldwide amphibian species are threatened, therefore, efficient monitoring efforts are needed. Amphibians which adopt a hidden lifestyle, such as the common spadefoot toad, are often missed with standard surveying efforts. Spadefoot toads can be identified in regurgitated pellets of the barn owl, which provides an effective way to estimate toad activity. In our study we analyzed frequency of spadefoot toad remains from 2004 to 2016 in a steppe landscape in eastern Austria. Methods We used an automated model selection procedure together with a GLM analysis using a zero inflated error Poisson distribution, to analyze the presence of Pelobates fuscus in barn owl pellets. All analyses were done in the statistical software R, and the scripts to reproduce our results are available within this publication. Our approach may provide a template for other researchers to use for their own pellet data. Conclusions Our analysis suggested that activity of the common spadefoot toad is mainly influenced by rainfalls, while time of the year and temperature had small but significant effects. Interestingly, our data confirmed the possibility of a second breeding period in summer, triggered by heavy rainfalls. There were no indications for a population decrease in the observed years and locations. Our study shows that barn owl pellets can be used effectivley to assess pelobatid activity in an area. This might constitute a useful monitoring tool for conservation management for amphibians.

Kettle holes are found in young moraine landscapes and serve as an important habitat for amphibians. The loss of amphibians has been dramatic in recent decades, mainly because of the increase in land use intensity and deterioration of habitats e.g., kettle holes in agricultural landscapes. We monitored amphibian species on three organically managed farms in north-eastern Germany to get an overview of their occurrence and proof of reproduction to develop effective protection strategies. From 2016 to 2020, we investigated 50 kettle holes in cultivated fields. In 2018, we implemented the nature conservation measure 'cutting back dense wooded belts' in six of these kettle holes. Here, we focused on seven species considering four highly endangered species. We found six to seven species in up to 17 kettle holes in the 44 kettle holes without the measure 'cutting back dense wooded belts'. Bombina bombina occurred at the most kettle holes (57%). The number of kettle holes where amphibians reproduced differed strongly. On average, at least one species reproduced at 58% of the kettle holes. Many kettle holes become overgrown with negative effects for amphibians due to the reduction in solar irradiation and higher water consumption. The nature conservation measure increased the number of species on average from two to four and the number of species with reproduction from one to three. It is one of more than 100 measures in the 'Farming for Biodiversity' project that farmers can choose to receive a nature conservation certificate, which can be used for marketing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One third of the worldwide amphibian species are threatened, therefore, efficient monitoring efforts are needed. Amphibians which adopt a hidden lifestyle, such as the common spadefoot toad, are often missed with standard surveying efforts. Spadefoot toads can be identified in regurgitated pellets of the barn owl, which provides an effective way to estimate toad activity. In our study we analyzed frequency of spadefoot toad remains from 2004 to 2016 in a steppe landscape in eastern Austria. Methods: We used an automated model selection procedure together with a GLM analysis using a zero inflated error Poisson distribution, to analyze the presence of Pelobates fuscus in barn owl pellets. All analyses were done in the statistical software R, and the scripts to reproduce our results are available within this publication. Our approach may provide a template for other researchers to use for their own pellet data. Conclusions: Our analysis suggested that activity of the common spadefoot toad is mainly influenced by rainfalls, while time of the year and temperature had small but significant effects. Interestingly, our data confirmed the possibility of a second breeding period in summer, triggered by heavy rainfalls. There were no indications for a population decrease in the observed years and locations. Our study shows that barn owl pellets can be used effectivley to assess pelobatid activity in an area. This might constitute a useful monitoring tool for conservation management for amphibians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global amphibian decline, monitoring and restoration programmes are important. Acoustic monitoring is a possible approach for underwater vocalising species like the rapidly declining European common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus). In this study, our aim was to design a dedicated software detector to be used in combination with programmable audio recorders to process the large amount of data generated by long‐term acoustic monitoring and to use it for investigating the seasonal and circadian patterns of P. fuscus vocal activity.The software detector targets advertisement calls of the species. Based on acoustic analysis of that call, we developed a detector that utilises both frequency and time features of the calls. Data collected during three breeding seasons in four known or potential P. fuscus breeding sites of north‐eastern France were used to build a ground truth in order to test the performance of the detector. Then, we used the detector for analysing four acoustic monitoring campaigns conducted in two different sites over two breeding seasons to gain insight into the seasonal and circadian patterns of vocal activity of this species.Evaluation of the P. fuscus call detector against a ground truth returned false‐positive rates below 1.5% and true‐positive rates ranging from 53% to 73%. These figures are compatible with long‐term monitoring of the presence of the species. Running the software detector on standard hardware, the computation time for post‐processing the 360 hr of a typical 3‐month monitoring campaign was less than 1 day.The seasonal pattern of P. fuscus underwater vocal activity is more complex than previously recognised. Over the whole ostensible 3‐month breeding season, the actual time window for vocalising and breeding can last from a few days up to several weeks and may be split into clearly distinct episodes. When vocalisations occurred at both night‐ and daytime, the circadian vocal activity of P. fuscus occasionally proceeded uninterrupted for 24 hr but usually a several hour lull occurred immediately prior to sunset. When vocalisations occurred at both night‐ and daytime, the vocal activity pattern followed a bimodal distribution with a nocturnal highest peak of activity and a second peak occurring in the morning.Our results demonstrate that it is feasible to monitor presence of P. fuscus in north‐eastern France using a dedicated software detector combined with programmable audio recorders. Based on the outcomes of the detector applied to long‐term audio data sets, we reveal temporal patterns of the vocal activity of the species and subsequently provide recommendations for attended and unattended acoustic monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acoustic repertoire of most anurans, even common species, is still insufficiently known. Here, we present a thorough quantitative description of acoustic parameters in release and distress calls in the three European spadefoot toad species, genus Pelobates. We also explored the intra- and interspecific variation and effects of body size on acoustic traits. We analysed a total of 749 release calls of 34 individuals of Pelobates fuscus and P. syriacus, and 312 distress calls of 36 individuals of P. fuscus, P. syriacus and P. cultripes. Release calls consisted of a note with one to three initial pulses of lower energy and a group of consecutive pulses characterized by higher energy in both species analysed. The structure of the distress calls was similar in all three species: loud, explosive, cat meow-like, single multi-pulsed notes rich in harmonics. Some of the variation among species in acoustic parameters in the release and distress calls is related to body size. Acoustic properties for both release and distress calls showed high levels of variability in all species. This pattern of variation is different from what is regularly found in the more conservative advertisement calls, and we advocate that such high variability is possible because release and distress call are not signals with divergent evolutionary history among related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ponds—small, isolated freshwater bodies—have vanished in large numbers during the last decades. Despite such great loss, the number of natural small water bodies has still remained quite high in Estonia. Nevertheless, many pond-related species, including amphibians such as the northern crested newt Triturus cristatus and the common spadefoot toad Pelobates fuscus—are in decline in Estonia, suggesting that the conditions of extant natural ponds might not be optimal. However, these conditions have never been examined. To halt the decline of these two pond-breeding species, more than 400 ponds have been constructed or restored from 2004 to 2014 in Estonia. In this study we compared 85 natural and 85 constructed ponds (which were created or restored especially for T. cristatus and/or P. fuscus) to find out: (i) what the main differences are between natural ponds and ponds specially created for threatened species; (ii) whether natural ponds provide breeding conditions for local amphibians; (iii) given the decline of T. cristatus and P. fuscus, what are the characteristics lacking in natural ponds, due to which they are not providing quality breeding habitats for these species. Whereas the constructed ponds were located in open habitats with mineral soils, the natural ponds were mainly in mires and forests, being thus more shaded. Amphibian diversity was higher in the constructed ponds and was positively related to the depth of the pond, the clarity of the water, the presence of slanting slopes, the absence of fish and the presence of nearby fields. T. cristatus preferred constructed ponds for reproduction, while the breeding site selection of P. fuscus was determined mainly by terrestrial habitat characteristics. Importantly, when the threatened species were removed from the sample, the diversity of common amphibians did not differ between natural and constructed ponds, suggesting that in our study sites natural water bodies act still as breeding sites for common species, but not for threatened ones. We conclude that pond construction is an important tool to halt the decline of threatened species, even in landscapes where natural ponds are still preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nestling diet and parental provisioning rate are important determinants of reproductive success and future offspring performance in birds. The diet of Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) nestlings was characterized and tested for intra-seasonal and brood-size dependent variation in the type and mass of prey provisioned to the brood. Data were collected on 576 prey items from 45 Black Stork broods in central Poland during 2005–2016. Black Stork nestlings were provisioned almost exclusively with fish and amphibians; the proportion of invertebrates in their diet was marginal. Fish were a dominant component of nestling diet, comprising up to 65% of prey items and over 85% of total prey mass. Common spadefoot tadpoles (Pelobates fuscus), weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis) and Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) were among the most abundant prey. Black Storks foraged on relatively small prey, with an average length of 101.4 ± 1.5 mm (n = 576) and an average mass of 13.8 ± 1.0 g (n = 550). Larger broods were significantly more often fed with amphibians and with lighter prey. As the season progressed, the probability of preying on amphibians increased. This study provides evidence for Black Stork provisioning effort optimization mediated by selection of smaller, but easier to catch and handle prey, such as common spadefoot tadpoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on known literature data and data collected during field research in 2014 and 2015, we present an updated distribution map of the common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) in Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia). Pelobates fuscus is listed as least concern on the global IUCN Red List, data deficient in Croatian Red Book and the populations are in constant decline. Until year 2014 this species was only suspected to inhabit Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today we have confirmed localities in Posavina region (western, central and eastern part) presented with precise coordinates and elevation. In this paper we also present first findings of tadpoles, more precisely, the reproductive sites of the common spadefoot toad in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Croatia, this species is found along the rivers Mura, Drava and Sava, including most lowland areas up to 300 m above sea level. Historical records of Pelobates fuscus in Adriatic region are discussed and compared with the distribution area of the Italian isolated population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patterns of change in the calendar dates of the start, end, and duration of wintering of the common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) in the Medveditsa River valley (Lysogorskii district, Saratov oblast) in the period from 1892 until 2014 are considered. A reduction in the duration of wintering by seven days due to a shift in the start of wintering to a later date and that of the end of wintering to an earlier date (on average) over the last 120 years is shown. The changes in the end and start of wintering mainly began to emerge in the 1950s and 1980s, respectively, and significantly accelerated in 2002-2014. The periodicity of changes in the dates of the start and end of wintering occur mainly owing to the winter severity cycles (8-9 years) and the humidity-aridity ones (Brückner cycle of 36-38 years). Our analysis of the temperature regime across the soil profile shows that the shortening of wintering is mainly caused by the earlier start of the spawning migration of mature individuals of this species in the spring. The depth of location of P. fuscus individuals in the soil profile has decreased steadily from the early 1980s to 2014. Predictive models have been developed allowing us to forecast the termination of movement of P. fuscus individuals in the soil profile from the horizons where they can be found in the period of activity by 2050, as well as a significant reduction in the wintering duration or even its complete disappearance as a phase of the annual cycle in the course of 315 years provided that the modern climatic trend will continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Captive rearing programs have been initiated to save the European common spadefoot ( Pelobates fuscus), a toad species in the family of Pelobatidae, from extinction in The Netherlands. Evaluating whether this species needs ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and/or dietary supplementation for healthy bone development is crucial for its captive management and related conservation efforts. The bone mineralization in the femurs and the thickest part of the parietal bone of the skulls of European common spadefoots ( n = 51) was measured in Hounsfield units (HUs) by computed tomography. One group, containing adults ( n = 8) and juveniles ( n = 13), was reared at ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo without UVB exposure. During their terrestrial lifetime, these specimens received a vitamin-mineral supplement. Another group, containing adults ( n = 8) and juveniles ( n = 10), was reared and kept in an outdoor breeding facility in Münster, Germany, with permanent access to natural UVB light, without vitamin-mineral supplementation. The HUs in the ARTIS and Münster specimens were compared with those in wild specimens ( n = 12). No significant difference was found between the HUs in the femurs of both ARTIS and Münster adults and wild adults ( P = 0.537; P = 0.181). The HUs in the skulls of both captive-adult groups were significantly higher than in the skulls of wild specimens ( P = 0.020; P = 0.005). The HUs in the femurs of the adult ARTIS animals were significantly higher than the HUs in the femurs of the adult Münster animals ( P = 0.007). The absence of UVB radiation did not seem to have a negative effect on the bone development in the terrestrial stage. This suggests that this nocturnal, subterrestrial amphibian was able to extract sufficient vitamin D3 from its diet and did not rely heavily on photobiosynthesis through UVB exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natura Sloveniae: Revija za Terensko Biologijo / Journal of Field Biology is the property of Natura Sloveniae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Viruses in the genus Ranavirus (family Iridoviridae) are known to have the potential to adversely affect fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Ranaviruses are associated with large-scale die-offs and rapid population declines in amphibians. The development and progression of an outbreak, however, vary greatly depending on the host species and geographic location. We describe the recurrent course of an outbreak of common midwife toad virus in an isolated population (Staphorst) of common spadefoot toads ( Pelobates fuscus) in The Netherlands from 2012 to 2015. After initial mass mortality of toad larvae in 2012, no mass mortality was recorded in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, however, a recurrent outbreak of the virus is believed to have caused high mortality rates among this species in the Staphorst population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of stability of amphibian populations on the basis of data of population dynamics is given. The paper shows an attempt to estimate the direction of dynamic changes of amphibian populations, and defines the rate of the system deviation from the stationary state due to possible influence of the environmental factors by using concepts such as reactivity, degree of reactivity and flexibility of the system when using their indexes. It is found that populations of amphibians are quite stable with regard to quantifying these species. Characteristic feature is the elasticity of the system. It is confirmed by the elasticity of the system species Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758). TypePelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768) is defined as a factor of stability of the system in quantitative terms. Dependenceof dynamics of the population on its size is established using the regression equation. Dynamics of groups depends on the action of possible predictors in response to which the population of B. bufo is not changed. The ecosystem is characterized as a place of interaction between biotic factors and factors of abiotic origin, which are due to the external action. Internal factor of the ecosystem stability is the influence of some amphibian populations on the other ones. The system features sustainable and relatively stable number of B. bufo, which does not affect the level of its stability. Stationary state of the grouping is unstable due to dynamic matrix, which describes the behavior of the group in the vicinity of the first stationary state. The second steady state is stableone, and the system returns to the stationary state with the help of wave-like dynamics. On the basis of our study it is established that the number of groups of amphibians remains stable, the systems behave differently, and dynamics of their return to the stationary state is elastic or reactive one. Еcosystems within lime-ash oak forests in the Central floodplain of the Samarariver represent relatively stable populations of amphibians. The constant number of individuals in the population confirms stability of the ecosystem. The regression equation indicates the dependence of the dynamic performance of the system on the number of amphibians.

In the four years following the first detection of ranavirus (genus Ranavirus, family Iridoviridae) infection in Dutch wildlife in 2010, amphibian mortality events were investigated nationwide to detect, characterize and map ranaviruses in amphibians over time, and to establish the affected host species and the clinico-pathological presentation of the disease in these hosts. The ultimate goal was to obtain more insight into ranavirus disease emergence and ecological risk. In total 155 dead amphibians from 52 sites were submitted between 2011 and 2014, and examined using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, virus isolation and molecular genetic characterization. Ranavirus-associated amphibian mortality events occurred at 18 sites (35%), initially only in proximity of the 2010 index site. Specimens belonging to approximately half of the native amphibian species were infected, including the threatened Pelobates fuscus (spadefoot toad). Clustered massive outbreaks involving dead adult specimens and ranavirus genomic identity indicated that one common midwife toad virus (CMTV)-like ranavirus strain is emerging in provinces in the north of the Netherlands. Modelling based on the spatiotemporal pattern of spread showed a high probability that this emerging virus will continue to be detected at new sites (the discrete reproductive power of this outbreak is 0.35). Phylogenetically distinct CMTV-like ranaviruses were found in the south of the Netherlands more recently. In addition to showing that CMTV-like ranaviruses threaten wild amphibian populations not only in Spain but also in the Netherlands, the current spread and risk of establishment reiterate that understanding the underlying causes of CMTV-like ranavirus emergence requires international attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species' distribution data are substantial basic for future research in the areas of systematics, ecology, biogeography and especially conservation biology. Rapid worldwide declines of amphibians have emphasized a need for more precise data about their distribution at the regional and national levels, especially in countries with poor distributional data (e.g. Margules et al. 2002). Regarding both the geographical location as well as the elevation gradient, the entire territory of Serbia is inhabited by amphibians. General distribution pattern of all Serbian amphibians has been published only recently (Vukov et al. 2013), but without precise locations. As concerned to Anuras, overview of precise distribution exists for only few species, e. g. Pelobates fuscus and Pelobates syriacus (Džukić et al. 2005, 2008), while for all other species of frogs and toads in Serbia, comprehensive and detailed distribution data are not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spawning migration phenology of Pelobates fuscus was investigated on the basis of our field surveys of four floodplain lakes in the valley of the Medveditsa River (Saratov oblast) carried out in 2009-2013. The mean long-term dates on which the main phases of this phenomenon start (onset is April 7-13, culmination is April 17-20, and end is May 8-14), as well as the critical values of water temperature in the spawning waterbodies at the time of their onset (3.7-4.7, 5.2-8.6, and 14.3-16.9°C, respectively), were estimated. The species specificity of the temperature parameters at the onset of each phase of spawning migration was shown. The interpopulation differences were insignificant and were caused by local features of the spawning waterbody (its position in the valley, water supply mode, impact of floods, and weather conditions of a particular year) and the area around it (forestation level of the territory). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the omega-3 family, namely, eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA), exported by amphibian metamorphs from water to terrestrial ecosystems in the Medveditsa River floodplain, was quantified for the first time. The total biomass export by three amphibian species (Pelobates fuscus, Bombina bombina, and Pelophylax ridibundus) per unit area of the lake surface was 0.594 g/m2 per year (as a mean for 2 years). The biomass flow per unit area of land was 0.726 g/ha per year (0.302 g/ha per year for organic carbon) in 2015-2016. The average annual total removal of EPA + DHA by amphibians from the floodplain lake was 1.47 mg/m2 of water surface area. Due to the high content of EPA and DHA in biomass, amphibians are potentially a valuable food for terrestrial predators having no access to other sources of essential PUFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic & Applied Ecology is the property of Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper first describes in detail the karyotype of Pelobates vespertinus (Pallas, 1771) in comparison with the karyotype of Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768). Comparative morphological analysis of chromosomes has shown that these two cryptic species have a symmetrical karyotype consisting of two-armed chromosomes. It has been established that their chromosome sets consist of 7 pairs of large chromosomes and 6 pairs of small ones. The species diff er by the position of the centromere in the chromosomes of the 10th and 11th pairs. The 10th pair of P. fuscus is metacentrics, the 11th pair is submetacentric; the 10th pair of P. vespertinus is submetacentric, and the 11th one is metacentrics. Secondary constrictions are on the short arms of the 7th chromosome pair. The chromosomal formula for both species is 4 meta-(m) + 7 submeta-(sm) + 2 subtelocentrics (st), 2n = 26, N.F. = 52. Absolute length of all the chromosomes in the karyotype of P. fuscus is somewhat larger than that one in the karyotype of P. vespertinus. The parameters of relative length are equivalent on average, but they diff er in individual chromosomes. On the background of established chromosomal differences between the cryptic species, reliable diagnostic features have not been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the four species encompassing the genus Pelobates, only two overlap along a narrow contact zone, i.e., Pelobates fuscus and Pelobates syriacus. Our study investigated the shifts in niche similarity of these two closely related species from the Last Interglacial towards the end of the twenty-first century. We computed climatic suitability models using Maxent and projected them onto future and past climates. We used fossil occurrences to test the predictive accuracy of past projections. Niche similarity was assessed between the studied species using Schoener's D index and a background similarity test. Finally, we evaluated niche differentiation by contrasting the species occurrences using a logistic regression analysis. The ecological niches are slightly extended outside the present geographical ranges in the Caucasus and the Balkans, south for P. fuscus and north and west for P. syriacus, suggesting that their present distribution is not at equilibrium with the climate. The Last Interglacial distribution of P. fuscus included British Isles and broad areas in western, central, and northern Europe, while P. syriacus extended northwards in the Balkans. The validation with fossil records revealed good predictive performance (omission error = 4.1 % for P. fuscus and 16.6 % for P. syriacus). During the Last Glacial Maximum, climatic suitability persisted in refugia in southern Europe, Pannonian Basin, and Caucasus for P. fuscus, and Israel, southern Balkans, and Caucasus for P. syriacus. Present potential distributions revealed a low similarity of species' ecological niches, comparable with Last Interglacial, but projections towards 2080 revealed a sharp increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach to model the distribution of the rare European amphibian Pelobates fuscus insubricus, with the final goal of identifying suitable areas for its conservation. We generated the model starting from a dataset of all locations where this species' presence was confirmed for the region of piedmont in 2004-2010, which consisted of only 15 occurrence records. To verify the working hypothesis that population survival is higher in areas where Maxent identifies higher distribution probability values, we used suitability indexes generated by the model to compare the 'historical' (before 1980) and 'recent' (1980-1996) distributions of P. f. insubricus populations in the piedmont region. The average area-under-the-curve value (0.878, s = 0.075) of the Maxent model proved significantly informative. Using the Bonferroni confidence interval, we demonstrated that surviving populations occupy geographic areas characterized by significantly higher potential suitability ( p < 0.05), and we selected areas accordingly. We therefore conclude that, in our case study, modelling the distribution of rare species may represent a useful strategy to select areas where these species are likely to persist. To further evaluate this approach, we suggest testing it on the study of other rare species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on allozyme variation of 410 newly collected individuals from 52 localities, we reconstructed range-wide phylogeography of the widespread Western Palearctic anuran, Pelobates fuscus. To study genetic diversity, evolutionary history, postglacial range expansion and secondary contact zones, we used a multidisciplinary approach combining information from various genetic analyses and ecological niche modeling. We confirmed the presence of two main groups in P. fuscus, initially revealed by genome size variation. Pelobates f. vespertinus presents a monomorphic group, but two main groups can be identified in P. f. fuscus: an East European and a West European group. We suggest the existence of at least four different Last Glacial refugia for P. fuscus: (1) the area between the Caspian and Azov Seas as the origin for the expansion of P. f. vespertinus; (2) the northwestern part of the Black Sea area for the East European P. f. fuscus; (3) the southwestern part of the Pannonian Plain and (4) the Po Plain for the West European P. f. fuscus. The routes of postglacial range expansions from the refugia are discussed. We newly identified a hybrid zone between P. f. fuscus and P. f. vespertinus. The width of this zone is about 12.5 km. In light of these findings, the two subspecies of P. fuscus constitute distinct evolutionary lineages and merit recognition as separate species. Our data do not provide support for the validity of P.f. insubricus. We therefore propose to synonymize this subspecies with P. f. fuscus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]