Amphibian decline in focus: population dynamics and life history of the Near Eastern fire salamander<i> (Salamandra</i> infraimmaculata)
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, cilt.75, 2026 (SCI-Expanded)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 75
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.25225/jvb.26002
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
- Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Amphibian populations worldwide are experiencing an unprecedented decline. More than 40% of species are at risk of extinction due to climate change, habitat loss and disease. The Near Eastern fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) is distributed across T & uuml;rkiye, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel and Lebanon, yet its demographic parameters remain poorly understood. Here, we present the first multi-year mark-recapture study (2022-2024) of population dynamics and life-history variation across six Anatolian populations. Our analyses indicate substantial variation among populations, with eastern populations often showing higher abundance estimates and older age structures, whereas other populations showed higher detectability, lower survival, or contrasting age structures. The average age ranged from 6.5 to 8 years, and sexual maturity was generally reached at 3-4 years. Females showed a faster growth trajectory and appeared to attain adult size earlier than males. Phenological patterns also varied among populations, although activity was mainly concentrated between late autumn and spring. Our results suggest marked variation among populations in demographic performance and potential vulnerability. This may reflect local differences in habitat conditions and environmental context. Compared with the limited earlier studies, these findings provide one of the first integrated multi-population demographic baselines for S. infraimmaculata in Anatolia and offer a basis for population-sensitive conservation planning. Given the species' dependence on humid microhabitats and suitable breeding waters, targeted habitat protection, reduction of road mortality, and long-term monitoring should be prioritised to support its persistence in a rapidly changing environment.