ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Can Change of Landscape Composition Increase
Interspecies Competition Among Amphibians
and Thus Decrease the Body Condition
of the Endangered Bombina variegata?
Peter Mikoláš1,2
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1Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina,
SK - 059 56 Tatranská Javorina 7, Slovak Republic
2Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Palacký University,
Šlechtitelů 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Submission date: 2016-03-18
Final revision date: 2016-04-20
Acceptance date: 2016-04-22
Publication date: 2016-11-24
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(6):2527-2531
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ABSTRACT
This study investigates the effect of forest cover in close proximity to breeding ponds (N = 29) together
with the effect of the presence or absence of other amphibian species on the residual body condition index of
Bombina variegata (N = 106). PCA and ANOVA analysis showed that body condition index was higher in
toads found in breeding ponds with higher forest cover within a radius of 50 m. This observation confirms the
results of other authors. Other amphibian species (Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Triturus montadoni) occurred
together with Bombina variegata mostly in ponds surrounded by larger deforested areas. Furthermore, the
significantly lower body condition index of Bombina variegata was observed mostly in ponds occupied
by other amphibian species (p<0.001). Results suggest that Bombina variegata is better adapted to shaded
environments in comparison to other amphibians and therefore is able to achieve higher body condition in
forest ponds not only due to higher nutrient availability and higher moisture but also decreased competition.