NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
International scientific research journal of zoology and animal ecology
of the Herpetological Club - Oradea
Univeristy of Oradea, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology
Univeristatii str. No.1, Oradea – 410087, Romania
Publisher: University of Oradea Publishing House
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
NORTH – WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(International journal of zoology and animal ecology)
ACCEPTED PAPER
- Online until proofing -
Authors: Lavinia ȚERAN; Tibor SOS; Zsolt HEGYELI; Ede GÁBOS; Tihamér
FÜLÖP; Attila MARTON
Title: New data on the distribution of Eastern spadefoot toad Pelobates syriacus
Boettger, 1889 (Anura: Pelobatidae) in the Pannonian Plain
Journal: North-Western Journal of Zoology
Article number: e167503
Status: awaiting English spelling editing
awaiting proofing
How to cite:
Țeran L., Sos T., Hegyeli Z., Gábos E., Fülöp T., Marton A. (2016): New data on the
distribution of Eastern spadefoot toad Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889 (Anura:
Pelobatidae) in the Pannonian Plain. North-Western Journal of Zoology (2016):
e167503
Date published: <2016-07-27>
Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
1 New data on the distribution of Eastern spadefoot toad Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889
2 (Anura: Pelobatidae) in the Pannonian Plain
3 ȚERAN Lavinia1, SOS Tibor2, HEGYELI Zsolt2, GÁBOS Ede1, FÜLÖP Tihamér2,
5 MARTON Attila2
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4 6 7 8 9 10 1
Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Gheorghe Bilaşcu 44, 400015,
Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
2
“Milvus Group”- Bird and Nature Protection Association, Crinului 22, 540343, Târgu Mureş,
Romania.
11 12 Corresponding author:
13 Lavinia Țeran, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Gheorghe Bilaşcu
14 44, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
15 Email: [email protected]
16 17 Abstract
19 The distribution of Eastern spadefoot toad Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889 (Anura:
20 Pelobatidae) in Romania is insufficiently documented. Existing literature data report a
21 continuous distribution of eastern spadefoot in the Dobrogea Plateau, eastern Romanian Plain
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18 22 and along the Danube Valley to the Iron Gates area. The northern distribution limit of the
23 species was reported in the vicinity of Călmățui locality (Galați County), while the Romanian
24 western limit is known at Gogoșu locality (Mehedinți County). Here we report the
25 northernmost presence of the species in the Carpathian Basin and a north-western range
1 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
26 extension for the Romanian distribution. The species was discovered in the Aranca and
27 Jimbolia Plains (Timiș County), situated in the eastern part of the Pannonian Plain.
28 Keywords: Spadefoot toads, Pelobates syriacus, range extension, western Romania,
30 Pannonian Plain, Carpathian Basin.
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29 31 32 Running title: New location for Pelobates syriacus.
33 Two of the four European spadefoot toad species are present in Romania: the Common
35 spadefoot toad Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti 1768), with an extensive range that covers most of
36 the plains and hilly regions (up to 700 m); and Eastern or Syrian spadefoot toad Pelobates
37 syriacus Boettger, 1889, which is limited to the southern parts of the country at altitudes
38 below 200 m a.s.l. (Fuhn 1960, Sos 2008). The european distribution of P. syriacus includes
39 the south-eastern Balkans (Džukić et al. 2005, 2008); in SW Asia it occurs in eastern to south-
40 eastern Transcaucasia, northern Iran, Turkey and the Levant to Israel (Agasyan et al. 2009,
41 Székely et al. 2013). According to Sofianidou (1997), the present range of P. syriacus is
42 bounded by the Pannonian Plain and the Danube River area in the north (but see
43 Cogălniceanu et al. 2013, Székely et al. 2013), the Morava River valley in the west, the
44 Mediterranean shoreline in the south, and Transcaucasia in the east. In Romania the
45 subspecies P. s. balcanicus Karaman, 1928 appears, which has a distribution restricted to
46 Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Turkey-in-Europe (Fuhn 1960, Ugurtas et al.
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34 47 2002).
48 P. syriacus is a highly specialized species, having a narrow ecological niche. Terrestrial
49 habitats occupied are generally open uncultivated and also cultivated arable land (Székely et
50 al. 2013), steppe, coastal dunes (Fuhn 1960), semi-desert and rocky areas, heathlands and
2 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
deciduous woodlands (Džukić et al. 2005), etc. According to Székely et al. (2013), the species
52 is rather abundant in uniform and extensive agricultural landscapes, taking advantage of the
53 network of irrigation canals, partly abandoned and transformed into wetlands. Besides soft
54 soils suitable for a fossorial life, it also inhabits solid, rocky soils (Agasyan et al. 2009). The
55 landscape features have a strong influence on population spread and density (Shpun et al.
56 1993). It is a fossorial, nocturnal species. During the day it lives in deep burrows, in typically
57 moist soils, and usually remains near its breeding areas (Nicholas & Owenden 2004).
58 Comprehensive historical and recent distribution data of the species in Romania were recently
59 compiled by Cogălniceanu et al. (2013; Figure 1.a). Here, the occurrence of the species was
60 reported from 59 5x5 km UTM cells based on 31 old and 122 new records reported before and
61 after 1990, respectively. The most recent study dealing with the distribution of P. syriacus in
62 Romania has expanded its range map, with 36 new locations from Galați, Brăila, Buzău,
63 Giurgiu, Olt and Mehedinți counties (from east to west), accounting to 27 new 5x5 km UTM
64 grids (Székely et al. 2013). According to Székely et al. (2013), the northern distribution limit
65 of the species has been extended to Călmățui locality (Galați County), while the Romanian
66 western limit is Gogoșu locality (Mehedinți County). During our field work, we collected new
67 occurrence records that extend the known geographical range of this species further to the
68 north and west, in the Carpathian Basin, i.e. Pannonian Plain.
69 The surveys were conducted during the night, near human settlements and in agricultural
70 lands and also on road sections in order to detect road kills. The investigations were
71 performed outside the reproductive period and only adults were located.
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51 72 The criteria used for species identification were the head shape, which in the case of this
73 species is flat compared with the well-marked dome of P. fuscus, the web shapes of the hind
74 legs and also the colour and pattern of markings (Fuhn 1960, Cogălniceanu 2002, Sidorovska
3 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
et al. 2002). The dorsal side has variable colouration, from yellow-greyish to white and it can
76 have different tones, but is never brown as in P. fuscus.
77 Here we report six new distribution data and at the same time, six new 5x5 km UTM cell
78 presences of the species from which four records extend the range of the species in Romania
79 to the west and north, inside the Carpathian Basin in the Aranca and Jimbolia Plain. Both are
80 part of the Pannonian Plain, and lie in the lower Mureș River catchment area (Table 1, Figure
81 1.b-c and 2). The new data represent the northernmost distribution limit in the Carpathian
82 Basin, some 120 km from the previously known Serbian population from the Danube Valley
83 (Džukić et al. 2005, 2008). Seven active adults were identified at night time, in July and
84 August 2015, in Vălcani locality (on three different occasions) and one in Comloșu Mare
85 locality (Figure 2.a-b). Some of the specimens were found during or after rain. The other two
86 specimens located near Sânnicolau Mare and Saravale localities were road kills (Figure 2.c-
87 d).
88 These distribution data are in conflict with the statement of Sofianidou (1997) that the present
89 range of P. syriacus is bounded by the Pannonian Plain, as these data are from within this
90 region, and outside the Danube River Valley. The presence of the species in the Pannonian
91 Plain is not unexpected as it was already reported from the southernmost limits of the region
92 (Džukić et al. 2005, 2008). These new data also fall within the geographical space delineated
93 by Tarkhnishvili et al. (2009).
94 The species is sympatric here with other amphibians: Triturus dobrogicus, Bombina bombina,
95 P. fuscus, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelophylax ridibundus and P. kl.
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75 96 esculentus.
97 P. syriacus is listed in the Governmental Emergency Ordinance 57/2007 on the regime of
98 natural protected areas, conservation of natural habitats, of wild flora and fauna, approved,
99 with amendments and additions by Law 49/2011 (Annonymous 2011), which transposes the
4 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
EU Habitat Directive. Here it appears in Appendix IVA as a species of Community interest in
101 need of strict protection.
102 In the surveyed areas, negative factors that could threaten the reproduction and survival of P.
103 syriacus have been identified. These are, in the order of their significance: loss of
104 reproductive habitat because of anthropogenic actions (Figure 3), accidental mortality (Figure
105 2.d), and harsh environmental conditions such as drought and pollution, as similarly listed by
106 Agasyan et al. (2009) for its entire distribution range. Loss of habitat due to land use change,
107 i.e. conversion of steppe grasslands to arable land, is also suspected among the causes that
108 lead to population reduction, however according to Székely et al. (2013), the species seems to
109 cope well with the dominant agricultural landscape. The adaptability of the species to this
110 threat should be dealt with in future research.
111 The new distribution data lie outside the existent Natura 2000 network (Figure 1.c). Even
112 though the species is not one that requires the designation of protected areas in order to ensure
113 its conservation under the Habitats Directive, the area should be designated as a Natura 2000
114 (or included in an existing one) or another type of protected area should be considered. Other
115 species which are listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, for example T. dobrogicus or B.
116 bombina, could be used to achieve that designation.
117 The range of P. syriacus is probably wider in this area considering the presence of the species
118 in Serbia, in the Danube Valley, especially assuming that the species does not have an insular
119 distribution there (Székely et al. 2013). A distribution even in Hungary could be predicted
120 based on ecological preferences of the species and also the available favourable habitats along
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100 121 the Mureș and Tisza River. The difficulties of identifying Pelobates spp. adults and their
122 tadpoles (Sidorovska et al. 2002), the insufficient survey coverage in the area, and also the
123 cryptic lifestyle of P. syriacus, are factors contributing to the deficient distribution data. These
124 should be filled in the future.
5 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
125 Acknowledgements
127 The authors are most grateful for the contribution and help of Dr. John Akeroyd, whose
128 comments on the manuscript have greatly improved the article’s content and language.
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126 129 References
131 Agasyan, A., Tuniyev, B., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Lymberakis, P., Andrén, C., Cogălniceanu,
132 D., Wilkinson, J., Ananjeva, N., Üzüm, N., Orlov, N., Podloucky, R., Tuniyev, S., Kaya, U.
133 (2009): Pelobates syriacus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2.
134 <www.iucnredlist.org, accessed at 2015 08 17>.
135 Annonymous, (2011): Law no. 49/2011 which approves with amendments the Government
136 Emergency Ordinance no. 57/2007 on the regime of protected natural areas, preservation of
137 natural habitats, wild flora and fauna. Official Monitor, no. 262 of 13 April 2011, Bucharest.
138 Cogălniceanu, D. (2002): Amfibienii din Romania. Ghid de teren (Amphibians of Romania.
139 Field guide). Naturalia Practica no. 5. Colectia de Biologie – Ecologie, Universitatea din
140 Bucuresti. Editura Ars Docendi, pp. 1 – 41.
141 Cogălniceanu, D., Székely, P., Samoilă, C., Iosif, R., Tudor, M., Plăiaşu, R., Stănescu, F.,
142 Rozylowicz, L. (2013): Diversity and distribution of amphibians in Romania. Zookeys, 296:
143 35-57.
144 Džukić, G., Beskov, V., Sidorovska, V., Cogălniceanu, D., Kalezić, M. L. (2005): Historical
145 and contemporary ranges of the spadefoot toads Pelobates spp. (Amphibia: Anura) in the
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130 146 Balkan Peninsula. Acta zoologica cracoviensia. 48A(1-2): 1-9.
147 Džukić, G., Beskov, V., Sidorovska, V., Cogălniceanu, D., Kalezić, M. L. (2008):
148 Contemporary chorology of the spadefoot toads (Pelobates spp.) in the Balkan Peninsula.
149 Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie. 15: 61-78.
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Fuhn I.E. (1960): Fauna RPR: Amphibia. Editura Academiei R.P.R., Bucureşti. pp 228.
151 Nicholas, E. A., Owenden, D. W. (2004): A field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of
152 Britain and Europe Ed. Collins, 208 pp.
153 Shpun, S., Hoffman, J., Nevo, E., Katz, U. (1993): Is the distribution of Pelobates syriacus
154 related to its limited osmoregulatory capacity? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology,
155 105A: 135-139.
156 Sidorovska, V., Ljubisavljevic, K., Džukić, G., Kalezić, M. L. (2002): Tadpole morphology of
157 two spadefoot toads (Pelobates fuscus and P. syriacus) (Amphibia, Anura, Pelobatidae).
158 Spixiana 25: 183-191.
159 Sofianidou, T. S. (1997): Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889. [In:] J.-P. GASC et al. (eds) –
160 Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Paris: Societas Europae Herpetologica, Museum
161 National d’Histoire Naturelle. pp. 112-113.
162 Sos, T. (2008): Review of recent taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in European
163 Amphibia and Reptilia Class related to Romanian herpetofauna, Herpetologica Romanica, pp.
164 61-91.
165 Székely, P., Iosif, R., Székely, D., Stănescu, F., Cogălniceanu, D. (2013): Range extension
166 for the Eastern spadefoot toad Pelobates syriacus (Boettger, 1889). Herpetology Notes, 6:
167 481-484.
168 Tarkhnishvili, D., Serbinova, I., Gavashelishvili, A. (2009): Modelling the range of Syrian
169 spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) with combination of GIS-based approaches. Amphibia-
170 Reptilia 30: 401-412.
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150 171 Ugurtas, I. H., Ljubisavljevic, K., Sidorovska, V., Kalezić, M. L., Džukić, G. (2002):
172 Morphological differentiation of eastern spadeefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) populations.
173 Israel Journal of Zoology 48: 13-32.
174 7 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
Table 1. New distribution data for Eastern spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) in Romania.
176 Figure 1.a. The updated distribution of Pelobates syriacus in Romania, plotted on 5x5 km
177 UTM grids. The broken lines delimit the location of b. and c. map. 1.b. The proportion of
178 Corine 2006 habitat types in the recently identified distribution area: grasslands (pastures;
179 light grey), agricultural lands (arable fields; dark grey), localities and roads (black). 1.c. The
180 Natura 2000 areas (marked with light grey) and the distribution of the species in the area.
181 Locality index: 1. Saravale, 2. Sânnicolau Mare, 3. Vălcani and 4. Comloșu Mare.
182 Figure 2. Live and road-killed Pelobates syriacus specimens from Vălcani (a), Comloșu
183 Mare (b), Sânnicolau Mare (c) and Saravale (d).
184 Figure 3. Loss of potential reproduction habitat because of anthropogenic action in Vălcani
185 village.
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175 8 Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
186 Table 1. New distribution data for Eastern spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) in Romania.
Administrative-territorial units
Lat./Long.
5x5 km UTM cell
Altitude
Commune/locality
Timiș
Vălcani
46.003 20.401
DR59.2
76 m
Timiș
Comloșu Mare
45.895 20.610
DR68.4
79 m
Timiș
Sânnicolau Mare
46.036 20.656
DR79.1
83 m
Timiș
Sânpetru
Mare/ 46.063 20.708
DS70.4
84 m
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County
Saravale
Teleorman
Bragadiru/Bujoru
43.698 25.528
LJ83.1
27 m
Brăila
Măcin
45.244 28.185
NL91.2
43 m
187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 N
197 198 9 o
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Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
199 200 Figure 1.a. The updated distribution of Pelobates syriacus in Romania, plotted on 5x5 km
201 UTM grids. The broken lines delimit the location of b. and c. map. 1.b. The proportion of
202 Corine 2006 habitat types in the recently identified distribution area: grasslands (pastures;
203 light grey), agricultural lands (arable fields; dark grey), localities and roads (black). 1.c. The
204 Natura 2000 areas (marked with light grey) and the distribution of the species in the area.
205 Locality index: 1. Saravale, 2. Sânnicolau Mare, 3. Vălcani and 4. Comloșu Mare.
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206 10 o
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Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
207 208 Figure 2. Live and road-killed Pelobates syriacus specimens from Vălcani (a), Comloșu
209 Mare (b), Sânnicolau Mare (c) and Saravale (d).
210 211 212 213 214 215 N
216 217 218 11 o
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Citation as online first paper: North-western Journal of Zoology 2016: e167503
219 220 Figure 3. Loss of potential reproduction habitat because of anthropogenic action in Vălcani
221 village.
222 N
223 12