amphibians

Currently, there is an unacceptably high rate of decline in the biodiversity of vertebrates, and, first of all, amphibians. This situation requires emergency measures to save the endangered species of these animals. One of such measures is the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including cryopreservation and cryobanking of reproductive cells (sperm and oocytes). However, cryopreservation technologies, successfully used for banking sperm, have not yet been adapted for cryobanking amphibian oocytes.

The development of a technology for hypothermic preservation of amphibian oocytes is one of the urgent tasks for cryobiology. The previously proposed method of “dry” hypothermic preservation in small sealed containers allowed us to increase the duration of refrigerated storage of unfertilized oocytes of the grass frog Rana temporaria up to 7 days (fertilization 40%; hatching 20%).

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).

An overview of the cases of introduction (both accidental and intentional) of amphibians and reptiles in the Caucasus and Crimea is provided. The introduction cases are systemized in accordance with the goals and ways of introduction and with regards to the expected scale of the impact and its nature. No negative consequences of the introduction of amphibian and reptile species in the Crimea and Caucasus are currently observed on any of the known examples.

A brief history of the formation of the batrachological collection of the Zoological Museum (Saratov State University) is given. The museum’s collections taken within the Saratov region and beyond are analyzed.

On the basis of modern field surveys, collection data, and analysis of the literature data, a list of amphibian and reptile species recommended for inclusion into the 3rd edition of the Red Book of the Saratov Region was compiled. It contains 7 species of the batrachofauna and herpetofauna of the region, belonging to 3 groups, 5 families, and 6 genera. We offer to add 1 new species into the Book and to exclude 1 species, and there appeared prerequisites for revision of the existing protection status of 2 taxa.

An annotated list of amphibian and reptile species of the Russian Far East is presented with due account of modern data on the taxa systematics. 13 Amphibian species and 27 reptile ones have been reliably registered by now, including several random sea species.

The author has collected and integrated records on 7 amphibian species and 9 reptile ones in the Evreiskaya Autonomous Oblast’ (Russian Federation). Most of these species are found to be distributed in the mountain-forest area of the region, which is due to a combination of several factors (temperature limits, the availability of refuges, and food base).

When studying the late Cenozoic history of amphibians and reptiles, a number of problems arise, associated with obtaining and interpretation of factual material. First of all, the author considers peculiarities of obtaining and identifying fossil material, which strongly affects the amount and quality of paleontological data. Most biologists are not familiar with them. These are problems of taphonomy, demand, economy, personnel, collection and systematic problems.

Field research was conducted on the Kerzhensky Nature Reserve territory (the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia) in 2012-2013 to analyze the influence of the 2010 forest wildfires on the populations of amphibians and reptiles and to reveal features of their post-wildfire recovery. The recovery of the herpetocomplexes on the territories subjected to surface/crawling and controlled fires was found to occur during no more than two years, whereas crown/canopy fires with complete vegetation destruction required three years for recovery.