For citation:
Afrina I. V., Afrin K. A., Kidov A. A. Demographic features of amphibians in a megacity (case study of Moscow City). Current Studies in Herpetology, 2025, vol. 25, iss. 3, pp. 155-158. DOI: 10.18500/1814-6090-2025-25-3-4-155-158
Demographic features of amphibians in a megacity (case study of Moscow City)
The study focuses on demographic characteristics of amphibians in a megacity environment, using Moscow City as a case study. The relevance of our research is driven by the impact of the urban environment on ecosystems. In Moscow City, home to over 13 million people, the urban infrastructure affects the natural habitats of amphibians. The study primarily examines the common toad (Bufo bufo) and common frog (Rana temporaria). Fieldwork was conducted in the village of Kievsky, the settlement of Kresty, the Timiryazevsky and Bitsevsky forest parks, and the cottage village of Lukomorye in May 2020. The research focused on the age structure and reproductive parameters of amphibians. Age was determined using skeletochronology, while body length and fertility were also measured. The results revealed that females of both species were, on average, older and larger than males. The average age of female common toads was 5.1±1.30 years, while males averaged 3.8±0.88 years. For common frogs, the average age of females was 4.4±1.52 years, and males averaged 3.6±1.01 years. Fertility in these amphibians correlated with their age and body size. When comparing female common frogs from populations with different urbanization gradients, no statistically significant differences in the age structure were observed. However, the age structure of males from the same locations showed significant variations. Our findings can be utilized to develop measures for preserving biodiversity in urban environments.
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