Abstract
We used MaxEnt method as a tool to assess potential distribution for Rana pseudodalmatina Eiselt & Schmidtler, 1971 in regional scale. At the local scale of distribution, we evaluated patterns of sex-biased dispersal in breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The MaxEnt model predicted potential suitable habitats for R. pseudodalmatina with high success rates (AUC Training data = 0.904 ± 0.057). According to the map constructed, the Iranian long legged wood frog prefers lowland forest regions, and land cover (65.4%); elevation (19.1%) has most impact on distribution of long-legged wood frogs in northern Iran. We found that, the percentage proportion of male frogs at the breeding site was significantly more than the percentage proportion of females (75.51% and 24.48%, respectively). Distance from the nearest potential breeding ponds differs between the sexes in breeding season and non-breeding season. It seems that, habitat destructions by local human activities and global climate change affected both regional and local distribution, are major threats to survival of the Iranian long-legged wood frog.
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Najibzadeh, M., Gharzi, A., Rastegar-Pouyani, N. et al. Habitat suitability and patterns of sex-biased migration of the Iranian long-legged wood frog, Rana pseudodalmatina (Anura: Ranidae). Biologia 72, 686–693 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0074
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0074