Species and hybrid composition and genetic diversity of water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex) in western Ukrainian hemiclonal population systems

Background. Two species of water frogs, Pelophylax ridibundus and Pelophylax lessonae, and their hybrid, Pelophylax kl. esculentus, are widespread in Ukraine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the population structure of various types of hemiclonal population systems (HPS) of water frogs formed due to the coexistence of frogs in the same territory. In Ukraine, a hybridization centre with the spread of triploid individuals of hybrid nature has been identified. Triploid hybrids are an intriguing research subject due to the diverse hypotheses about their origin and role in HPS. Outside the hybridization centre in Kharkiv Region, triploids are not commonly found. In our study, we describe the initial findings of triploid specimens in Lviv Region and analyze the genetic structure of the HPS where such individuals were detected. Methods. In total, 193 specimens of green frogs were collected between 2011 and 2015. Here we present population structure analysis which was conducted using two microsatellite loci, Rrid059A and RlCA1b5. A wide range of software programs were utilized for processing the genetic analysis data, including GenePop 4.7.5, Micro-Checker and NewHybrids 1.1. Results. Three types of hemiclonal population systems were identified: R-E type in Perekalky and Lake Pisochne, L-E type in Lake Luky, and R-E-L type in Nyzhankovychi, Velykyi Lyubin, Zhovtantsi and Cholgyni. Additionally, population systems with hybrids of mixed ploidy (diploids and triploids) were found in Perekalky, Velykyi Lyubin and Zhovtantsi. Conclusions. Genetic diversity analysis revealed variations in the number of alleles per population. P. ridibundus individuals exhibited higher genetic diversity compared to P. lessonae individuals, whereas hybrids showed intermediate genetic diversity. Further investigations of the localities where potential triploids were detected are necessary to assess the survival and reproductive potential of hybrid individuals and determine all types of hybrids and individuals of both marsh and pool frogs

Local colonisations and extinctions of European birds are poorly explained by changes in climate suitability

Climate change has been associated with both latitudinal and elevational shifts in species' ranges. The extent, however, to which climate change has driven recent range shifts alongside other putative drivers remains uncertain. Here, we use the changing distributions of 378 European breeding bird species over 30 years to explore the putative drivers of recent range dynamics, considering the effects of climate, land cover, other environmental variables, and species' traits on the probability of local colonisation and extinction. On average, species shifted their ranges by 2.4 km/year. These shifts, however, were significantly different from expectations due to changing climate and land cover. We found that local colonisation and extinction events were influenced primarily by initial climate conditions and by species' range traits. By contrast, changes in climate suitability over the period were less important. This highlights the limitations of using only climate and land cover when projecting future changes in species' ranges and emphasises the need for integrative, multi-predictor approaches for more robust forecasting.</p

Local colonisations and extinctions of European birds are poorly explained by changes in climate suitability

Abstract Climate change has been associated with both latitudinal and elevational shifts in species’ ranges. The extent, however, to which climate change has driven recent range shifts alongside other putative drivers remains uncertain. Here, we use the changing distributions of 378 European breeding bird species over 30 years to explore the putative drivers of recent range dynamics, considering the effects of climate, land cover, other environmental variables, and species’ traits on the probability of local colonisation and extinction. On average, species shifted their ranges by 2.4 km/year. These shifts, however, were significantly different from expectations due to changing climate and land cover. We found that local colonisation and extinction events were influenced primarily by initial climate conditions and by species’ range traits. By contrast, changes in climate suitability over the period were less important. This highlights the limitations of using only climate and land cover when projecting future changes in species’ ranges and emphasises the need for integrative, multi-predictor approaches for more robust forecasting

Local colonisations and extinctions of European birds are poorly explained by changes in climate suitability

Source data file contains data for plotting Figures 1,2, and 3, and Supplementary Figures S1, S3 -S12, and Supplementary Table S1. Supplementary data contains species’ trait data. References for data sources can be found in the separate sheet. Note traits were collated for 378 species of European breeding bird, but habitat breadth data were only available for 336 species. Sources of species data can be found in the References tab