I. Ethem Çevik

Morphological and serological investigations on Lacerta laevis Gray, 1838 (Sauria: Lacertidae) populations from Anatolia

Abstract A total of 51 specimens of Lacerta laevis (25 ♂, 26 ♀) from the area of Mersin and Hatay (southern Anatolia) were investigated morphologically, and of these 24 specimens (12 ♂, 12 ♀) were analyzed from the viewpoint of their blood-serum proteins. The populations were found to show great intra- and interpopulation variation in their pattern and colour characteristics and in their serological analyses, while their morphometric characteristics were found to be similar. It is thus concluded that, for the present, it is not possible to separate them into different subspecies.

Population Size and Age Structure of Metamorphic and Pedomorphic Forms of Ommatotriton ophryticus (Berthold, 1846) in the Northwestern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract Amphibians are in decline in many parts of the world. Understanding the population dynamics of amphibian species is an important prerequisite for developing effective conservation strategies. We used capture–mark–recapture and skeletochronological techniques to investigate population size, body size, and age structure of metamorphic and pedomorphic forms of Ommatotriton ophryticus between 2006 and 2009 in the northwestern Black Sea region of Turkey. Our findings showed that time-specific survival rate, constant capture probability, no temporary emigration, and time-specific population size were the most appropriate models for this population. According to the best model (Model 6), population size of metamorphic forms of O. ophryticus was estimated as 517 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 338–851) adults in 2006, 338 (95% CI = 282−421) adults in 2008, and 527 (95% CI = 443–646) adults in 2009. Average annual capture probability was estimated at 0.21, although average survival rate across years was 0.35. The mean body size and age structure of the pedomorphs and metamorphs was significantly different for both sexes. Also, body size of both forms of O. ophryticus showed positive significant correlations with age. In addition to this, both forms shared a common allometric slope of the snout–vent lengths vs. age, and older individuals had larger bodies. Moreover, age at first reproduction and longevity exhibited great differences between forms whereas the median age was 4 yr for each newt category, except for metamorphosed males, in which it was 5 yr. These results indicate that pedomorphs in this population show retardation of the somatic development and an earlier maturation.

A study on the blood cells of the fire-bellied toad, Bombina bombina L. (Anura: Bombinatoridae)

The aim of this study was to determine the blood cells parameters of Anatolian and Thracian Bombina bombina populations. The size and counts of various blood cells were analyzed in 29 mature Bombina bombina specimens belonging to two populations (Durusu-Istanbul and Doseme Batakligi–Adapazari) in northwest Anatolia. The mean erythrocyte count was determined as 251.429/mm3, that of leucocytes was 2.114/mm3, and that of thrombocytes was 12.857/mm3. There was no significant sexual variation in blood cell counts of our B. bombina sample which was collected during their breeding season. The leucocyte differential counts and staining properties of blood cells were also determined. Interspecific comparisons indicate that northwest Anatolian B. bombina samples share general features with other anurans but differ from other populations of the same species in blood cell parameters. The lower number of erythrocyte and their relatively large surface area of our samples suggest a lower level of metabolism and relatively higher oxygen uptake. We suggest that this structure is probably not only due to adaptations to different geographic regions and altitude but also a combination of recent habitat reductions due to human actions and agricultural contaminants may account for the blood cell parameters as well as other genetic and morphologic patterns of these isolated and small populations of this species.