травяная лягушка

Demographic features of amphibians in a megacity (case study of Moscow City)

Authors: Afrina I. V., Afrin K. A., Kidov A. A.

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).

Geographical variation of duration of larval development and body size in Rana temporaria (Ranidae, Anura) metamorphs

Authors: Lyapkov S. M.

With the help of artificial inter-population crosses of adult Rana temporaria from four spatially remote populations of the European part of the species' range, the magnitude and direction of changes in metamorphic traits were estimated.

Ice walking common frog (Rana temporaria) (Ranidae, Amphibia)

Authors: Milto K. D.

A record of Rana temporaria on the ice cover of the Gulf of Finland is described. Frog slowly moved on the ice surface with speed around 0.03 m/s. Air temperature near ice surface was +3.5°C, and the frog body temperature was +4°C. In the Saint Petersburg region, common frogs can hibernate in the coastal waters of Baltic Sea with salinity of  0 – 5.8‰.

New Approaches to Collecting Reproductive Material from Amphibians for its Use in Artificial Fertilization

Authors: Uteshev V. K., Gakhova E. N., Kramarova L. I., Shishova N. V., Kaurova S. A.

This paper describes new methods for obtaining viable ovulated oocytes and testicular sperm from the carcasses of females and males of the common frog Rana temporaria, stored at +4ºС for 1–7 days. In addition, a new approach to delayed collection (1 to 30 days) of ovulated oocytes from live female frogs of the same species is given. Part of the frog testicular spermatozoa is shown to retain motility (21.0±1.5%) and fertilizing ability (13.2±1.9%) even after 6 days of storage at +4°C in the carcasses of males.

RANA TEMPORARIA IN THE KAMCHATKA: FORMATION OF THE FIRST POPULATION

Authors: Lyapkov S. M.

The results of our first short-term study of a unique Rana temporaria population in May, 2015, are reported. This population was formed in the southern Kamchatka as a result of releasing 150 immature frogs in the spring of 2005. The numbers of breeding females was 2,648 in 2015. The activity season duration at the release locality (4 months) is 2 months shorter than that at the original locality of the translocated frogs in Moscow district.