Amphibians of different types of biogeocenoses of the Pamir-Alay and Southwestern Tien Shan under climate change conditions

Abstract

The main content of this publication is a description of the species composition, population structure, biotopic distribution, and variability of amphibian population density in the Pamir-Alay and Southwestern Tian-Shan. In different landscape zones and at different altitudes, the species composition of amphibians is heterogeneous. In the lowland zone and zones of the foothills and middle mountains (900-2000 m above sea level), amphibians are represented by two species - the lake frog (Rana ridibunda Pall.) and the Danatine toad (Bufo danatensis Pis.). In high mountain landscapes (2000-3500 m above sea level), only one species is represented, the Danatine toad (Bufo danatensis Pis.). These amphibian species live in different places in the region and their distribution looks quite mosaic. High-mountain landscapes, where the Bufo danatensis lives, look particularly isolated. At the same time, these types of amphibians choose very specific biotopes. Located in different altitude zones. The population density of amphibians in different landscapes was differentiated as a result of census activities in the territories of different types of biogeocenoses and different altitudinal zones. Research has shown that different landscape areas have different levels of lake frog density. So, the highest density values are typical of the plain foothills - an average of 461.0 ind./ha. These values are significantly lower in mid-mountain zones - 71.04 ind./ha, and in the high mountains their population is completely absent. As for the green toad, a high density is observed in the middle mountains - 240.3 ind./ha. In the plain foothills, it is significantly lower and amounts to 97.4 ind./ha. Different levels of population density of these species are explained and depend on the ecological specifics of amphibians and their habitat conditions.