<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Rain pools (pluviotelmata or puddles) are common, small and non-permanent aquatic ecosystems. Data on the use of rain pools by amphibian taxa in the Carpathian Mountains, especially in Slovakia, are rare. In this study we describe the occurrence of <italic>Bombina variegata</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758), which may use these small aquatic ecosystems as part of their complex life cycle or where they spend their larval period. The most important hydroperiodic factors affecting the vertebrate fauna were the volume and area of the rain pools, the presence (respectively the absence) of shade, water temperature, biotope structure and the presence of several chemical compounds (NO−3, GH, KH, pH). This study confirms that micro-habitats, such as rain pools, may play an important role for suitable reproduction sites of <italic>B. variegata</italic>, as stated by several authors from the different countries and regions of its large distributional range. At the same time, data on the presence or absence of different taxa with important conservation status in the monitored habitat aid in the detection of species.</abstract>

Rain pools (pluviotelmata or puddles) are common, small and non-permanent aquatic ecosystems. Data on the use of rain pools by amphibian taxa in the Carpathian Mountains, especially in Slovakia, are rare. In this study we describe the occurrence of Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758), which may use these small aquatic ecosystems as part of their complex life cycle or where they spend their larval period. The most important hydroperiodic factors affecting the vertebrate fauna were the volume and area of the rain pools, the presence (respectively the absence) of shade, water temperature, biotope structure and the presence of several chemical compounds (NO−3, GH, KH, pH). This study confirms that micro-habitats, such as rain pools, may play an important role for suitable reproduction sites of B. variegata, as stated by several authors from the different countries and regions of its large distributional range. At the same time, data on the presence or absence of different taxa with important conservation status in the monitored habitat aid in the detection of species.

<italic>Bombina variegata</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758) in rain pools in the Carpathian Mountains (Slovakia)

Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology

Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Ecology

Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

 (Linnaeus, 1758) in rain pools in the Carpathian Mountains (Slovakia)

Rain pools (pluviotelmata or puddles) are common, small and non-permanent aquatic ecosystems. Data on the use of rain pools by amphibian taxa in the Carpathian...

Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) in rain pools in the Carpathian Mountains (Slovakia)

Published Online: Oct 11, 2020

Page range: 165 - 174

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2020-0012

Keywords
Anurans, yellow-bellied toad, pluviotelmata, puddles, hydroperiodic factors

© 2020 Alexander Csanády et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) in rain pools in the Carpathian Mountains (Slovakia)

Published Online: Oct 11, 2020

Page range: 165 - 174

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2020-0012

KeywordsAnurans, yellow-bellied toad, pluviotelmata, puddles, hydroperiodic factors

© 2020 Alexander Csanády et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Anurans, yellow-bellied toad, pluviotelmata, puddles, hydroperiodic factors