Abstract Urban areas have globally expanded recently and will likely continue to do so in the near future. Although impact of urbanization on acoustic visual sexual signals has received considerable attention, other aspects, such as its influence chemical signaling, remain poorly studied. Many lizard species possess femoral glands, i.e. prominent epidermal glands underside thighs producing a wide variety compounds used signaling. Here we assessed effect urban, suburban rural habitats...

Abstract Urbanization leads to complex environmental changes and poses multiple challenges organisms. Amphibians are highly susceptible the effects of urbanization, with land use conversion, habitat destruction, degradation ranked as most significant threats. Consequently, amphibians declining in urban areas, both population numbers abundance, however, effect urbanization on genetic parameters remains unclear. Here, we studied genomic response two widespread European species, common toad...

Achieving an understanding of species' temporal and spatial abundance patterns is a prerequisite for proper conservation management decisions. Little known the ecological indicators census size or biomass terrestrial amphibian communities historical estimates population are rare. Here we took advantage data collected in 1967/1968 leaf-litter community Niepołomice Forest (NF) south-central Poland. Using same technique (removal sampling), censused this forest 50 years later (2016/2017),...

Abstract It is postulated that melanism in ectotherms adaptive by enhancing thermoregulation, subsequent resource acquisition, and growth. Such effects may differ between the sexes as a result of differential costs self-maintenance reproduction, but empirical support for sex-specific consequences remains inconsistent. We studied on body size sex ratio population European grass snake ( Natrix natrix ) SE Poland also carried out systematic review literature terrestrial snakes. Melanistic...

Proteins are ubiquitous macromolecules that display a vast repertoire of chemical and enzymatic functions, making them suitable candidates for chemosignals, used in intraspecific communication. present the skin gland secretions vertebrates but their identity, especially, remain largely unknown. Many lizard species possess femoral glands, i.e., epidermal organs primarily involved production secretion playing pivotal role mate choice intrasexual The lipophilic fraction glands has been well...

Cities represent a unique ecosystem dominated by humans and highdensity man-made infrastructure, associated with modifications or entire loss of local habitats.Thus, urbanization constitutes considerable challenge for wildlife, only minority species is able to persist in cities (Niemela ¨et al. 2011).Species that maintain populations are usually characterized significant changes life history characteristics, population structure, ecological relations 2011).So far, most studies urban ecology...

Populations at the edge of their main range distribution are often exposed to suboptimal environments. They therefore exhibit a greater susceptibility towards habitat changes and clearly differ in structure dynamics from populations range. Here we define population parameters Aesculapian snake Zamenis longissimus, species endangered Europe, its northern limit based on data obtained valley River San (Bieszczady Mts., SE Poland) 2009-2013. We focus spatial temporal sex ratio patterns by...

Abstract Avian blood parasites play a crucial role in wildlife health and ecosystem dynamics, exhibiting heterogeneous spatial distribution influenced by various factors. Although factors underlying heterogeneity infection with have been explored many avian hosts, their importance the context of host species parasite taxon remains poorly understood, particularly cohabiting species. Using next-generation sequencing for screening, we investigate association between Haemoproteus , Plasmodium...

In Poland, the Aesculapian snake, critically endangered at edge of its European range, inhabits lower parts Bieszczady Mts. in SE country. This research, carried out between 2009 and 2014, included fieldwork areas selected on basis historical literature data results interviews. 51 breeding mounds were deployed potential sites this snake's occurrence forested area 220,886 ha as a supportive tool for detecting these reptiles. The 371 records snake obtained are displayed maps showing...

The blue-spotted phenotype in a slow worm can be considered as an alternative colour morph or secondary sexual characteristic. This is known to entail elevated predation risk; thus, its continuous presence population must balanced by additional and positive fitness consequences. In this study, we show that males are characterised greater snout-vent length (SVL) than typical specimens. Importantly, the SVL of reaches magnitude average female size. indicates blue spots may involve correlated...

Depletion of free-living populations is often associated with changes in fitness-related traits, e.g., body size. Ongoing decrease size has been reported most vertebrates, but reptiles remain understudied. Moreover, sexual dimorphism, commonly observed reptiles, indicates that environmental pressures on may appear sex-specific. This can also result shifts sex ratio, an aspect even less studied. We investigated and ratio population grass snake (Natrix natrix) surveyed over 40 years ago...

Abstract Depletion of free-living populations is often associated with changes in fitness-related traits, e.g. body size. Ongoing decrease size has been reported most vertebrates, but reptiles remain understudied. Moreover, sexual dimorphism, commonly observed reptiles, indicates that environmental pressures on may appear sex-specific. This can also result shifts sex ratio, an aspect even less studied. We investigated and ratio population grass snake ( Natrix natrix ) surveyed over 40 years...