Zeitschrift für Biodiversität und gefährdete Arten

Amphibian and reptiles of Yakutia, their distribution and biodiversity

Abstract

Victor Timopheevich Sedalischev

Four amphibian and three reptile species inhabit Yakutia, Amphibians: Salamandrella keyserlingii-Northern border of the species range travels along river valleys to Tit-Ary Island (River Lena), in Lower Yana and Indigirka Rivers - to 71° N. In 1970s, number of Siberian salamanders in summer time was 7-10 individuals for 1 m² in Lena Valley. At the last, the species number get lowered and 1-3 individuals for 100 m of coastline were registered at the same region. Rana arvalis inhabits Lena valley and her tributaries. Northern border of the species range travels to 60° N, 124° E. The number is 1-15 individuals for 1/hа. Rana chensinensis is allocated in southern Yakutia by Aldan River and its tributaries valleys. The species goes to 60° N. The number is 15-20 individuals for 1 hа. All these three species are embraced to Yakutia Red Data Book.

In general, the outlook for amphibian staying power withinside the Arctic might be good. The species all seem secure globally, with Arctic populations representing the northern edge of an awful lot large distributions to the south. However, conservation of Arctic reptiles and amphibians will face some of demanding situations withinside the instant future and over the subsequent century, which includes contaminants from neighborhood and worldwide sources, anthropogenic habitat alteration, rising infectious diseases, weather change-brought about habitat alteration and loss, and the creation of novel pathogens and predators.

Environmental contaminants originating both from neighborhood factor reassets or from diffuse nearby and/or international reassets may also effect many in any other case undisturbed Arctic wetlands. Ackerman et al. (2008) and Landers et al. (2008) discovered concentrations of atmospherically deposited natural and different contaminants in fish from far off lakes in Arctic and sub-Arctic Alaska that exceeded thresholds of fitness subject for human beings and wildlife.

Because the take a look at webweb sites had been all placed in far off areas without a neighborhood contaminant reassets, their presence was attributed to long-variety trans-Pacific delivery and to international reassets. The threat to amphibians is doubtful and undocumented, however because of their aquatic developmental phase, wet and pretty permeable integuments, larval diets of zooplankton, phytoplankton and periphyton and person diets of better trophic stage invertebrates, they may also be predisposed to bio-collect a whole lot of contaminants while gift withinside the environment.

Rana amurensis is distributed on all Yakutia from West to East. It was located in north from 68° in valleys of rivers Lena, Yana, Indigirka аnd in the most northern point in Upper Yana region (71° N) and Reptiles: Lacerta vivipara is widely allocated in taiga zone of Yakutia. The northern border of the species range is 145° E in Indigirka basin. The number in Central Yakutia is low (single individuals were registered). Vipera berus by Lena valley, the species goes to 60° N. The number is 0.4 ind./hа. All mentioned reptiles embraced to Red Book of Yakutia. At the last years, Gloydius halys was registered regularly in entrance of Tokko River. Coming to Yakutia of this species is an important evidence of climate warming. Although the reptile and amphibian populations were stable in early 80s, up to date they are low and diminishing, even in such mass to lately as Rana amurensis. Rana arvalis, Rana chensinensis, Gloydius halys go northward.