Microplastics (MPs) have become pervasive environmental pollutants with significant impacts on ecosystems, particularly aquatic environments. As these particles infiltrate various habitats, they are ingested by a wide range of organisms, from plankton to large marine mammals. The ingestion MPs disrupts the food web, causing physical and chemical harm animals at multiple trophic levels. Here, we studied accumulation in gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) terrestrial lizard species after long-term...

To determine how climate factors influence age, body size and sexual dimorphism (SSD) in the Mediterranean region, we generated data on age of European Treefrog, Hyla arborea , three Turkish populations with a latitudinal gradient. We estimated structure (total ), using skeletochronology. Mean both sexes was smaller southern population (Antalya) than northern (Çanakkale Rize) female-larger SSD populations. A positive correlation found between each sex all populations, save Antalya females....

The skull structure in vertebrates is closely related to feeding mode. This study examines the relationship between cranial joint morphology variation among different lizard species [Eumesces schneideri (Daudin, 1802), Anguis colchica (Nordmann, 1840), and Eremias suphani (Başoğlu & Hellmich 1968)] their habit. investigates anatomical correlates of distinct kinesis models. Different joints permitting intracranial mobility have been observed these using histological section whole-mount...

The horse mackerel, distributed in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean waters, is economically valuable due to its high nutritional content fishing capacity. Global market demand for this species has been increasing over years. This rising causes pressure, endangering species' sustainability. Especially mackerel (Trachurus trachurus, Trachurus mediterraneus picturatus), which are found as mixed stocks Turkish waters under should be considered different evaluated with...

Climate change is a fact that impacts all living organisms. To understand its effects, numerous methods and techniques have been refined in recent years, with species distribution modeling (SDM) being one of the most widely used. This study applied SDM to examine seventeen Sphagnum species, group non-vascular land plants throughout Türkiye, under changing climate conditions. The considered global model (GCM)-BCC-CSM2-HR-two scenarios (SSP1-2.6 SSP5-8.5), two time periods (2021-2040...

Because of their diversity, microplastics (MPs), which are synthetic particles smaller than 5 mm, highly bioavailable and widely distributed. The prevalence in aquatic habitats has been extensively studied but less is known about presence terrestrial environments biota. This study examined MP intake utilizing gastrointestinal tracts (GITs), with a particular focus on the Turkish worm lizard (Blanus strauchi). Suspected discovered GITs were removed, measured, characterized based size, shape,...

Abstract We estimated differences in body size and age structure of two populations Pelophylax ridibundus living at different altitudes Turkey, one from Dörtyol (6 m a.s.l.) the other Karagöl (1480 a.s.l.). Their was determined by skeletochronology performed on LAGs (lines arrested growth) phalanges. While ages ranged 2 to 8 years for males 7 females Karagöl, 4 11 males, 3 females. Sexual dimorphism only found population. Larger tend be hotter climates (Dörtyol) but reach maturity later (3-4...

Abstract The Bufo bufo species group includes four distributed in the western Palearctic: B. , eichwaldii spinosus and verrucosissimus . Both are known to occur Turkey, but their range boundaries taxonomic status of still uncertain. In this study, we analyzed variation a set morphological characters two mitochondrial nuclear DNA markers address these questions. Phylogenetic analyses sequence data support main clades common toads corresponding latter is subdivided into allopatric subclades...

Most of Turkey’s land area is covered by one three biodiversity hotspots (Caucasus, Irano-Anatolian, and Mediterranean). Anatolia the main corridors for postglacial colonization Europe. Uncovering how populations a species differ genetically ecologically important understanding evolutionary processes. Here, I examined ecological information to define divergence between two lineages Hyla savignyi . Using niche modeling, determined whether divergent H. are geographically isolated addressed...

Differences in male and female traits (sexual dimorphism [SD]) are widespread animals. Dimorphism morphological characters evolves under the effect of environmental genetic factors is shaped by natural sexual selection. In this study, intersexual differences size shape common toad, Bufo bufo, populations Turkey were investigated. For this, linear measurements 27 body-related morphometric a sample 140 individuals (70 males 70 females) compiled. The data analyzed using univariate multivariate...

Revealing biodiversity allows the accurate determination of underlying causes many biological processes such as speciation and hybridization. These contain complex patterns, especially in areas with high species diversity. As two prominent zoogeographic areas, Anatolia Caucasus are also home to genus Darevskia, which has a morphological structure parthenogenetic speciation. Darevskia valentini D. rudis largely distributed taxa this genus, both have controversial taxonomic delimitation. Here...

Altitudinal gradients are an important variable in testing the life history traits (e.g., longevity, age at maturity, and body size) of organisms. In this study, Anatolian lizard Apathya cappadocica were examined from 3 populations different altitudes (Kilis, 697 m; Şanlıurfa, 891 Diyarbakır, 1058 m) southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. Age structure was determined by using skeletochronology. Males all larger sex; therefore, showed male biases that negative sexual size dimorphism index. Diyarbakır...

Despite previous work on the phylogeny of Palearctic Hyla , several problems still exist regarding systematics in Turkey. The tree frogs ( orientalis and savignyi ) Turkey was studied using combined mitochondrial genes (12S ribosomal RNA cytochrome b a nuclear gene (H3), sampling total 102 individuals from 51 localities. We find that is represented by single lineage, whereas divided into two lineages genes, but not gene. also confirm arborea schelkownikowi junior synonym .

According to evolutionary biologists, ecology is a very important factor in speciation. Ecology may be effective at driving adaptive divergence between lineages different environments and climatic conditions. Because Anatolia has major mountain belts, paleogeographic characteristics, unique traits, it plays an role speciation shows barrier effect for many terrestrial species. In this study, we investigated the preferences of 6 isolated Typhlops vermicularis using ecological niche modeling....

Hyla is one of the genera in family Hylidae that distributed Old World. Three tree frog species this genus are Eurasia and especially inhabit semiaquatic regions. Several studies were conducted on with different methodologies to delimit level. In present study, we modeled potential distribution areas for three frogs (Hyla orientalis, savignyi, felixarabica) determine suitable habitat each separately. Models all had a good fit as indicated by high area under curve (AUC) values (H. Orientalis...