Climate-driven distribution shifts of Iranian amphibians and identification of refugia and hotspots for effective conservation.

This study investigates the potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of Iranian amphibian species and identifies refugia and biodiversity hotspots to inform effective conservation strategies. The study employed ensemble species distribution models to assess the impacts of climate change on 19 Iranian amphibian species. We analyzed future scenarios (2041-2060 & 2081-2100) under a high-emission pathway to identify potential range shifts and refugia (areas with stable or newly suitable climate).

The Sixth Mass Extinction and Amphibian Species Sustainability Through Reproduction and Advanced Biotechnologies, Biobanking of Germplasm and Somatic Cells, and Conservation Breeding Programs (RBCs).

Primary themes in intergenerational justice are a healthy environment, the perpetuation of Earth's biodiversity, and the sustainable management of the biosphere. However, the current rate of species declines globally, ecosystem collapses driven by accelerating and catastrophic global heating, and a plethora of other threats preclude the ability of habitat protection alone to prevent a cascade of amphibian and other species mass extinctions. Reproduction and advanced biotechnologies, biobanking of germplasm and somatic cells, and conservation breeding programs (RBCs) offer a transformative change in biodiversity management.

Hormone-Driven Temperature Optimization for Elevated Reproduction in Goldfish () under Laboratory Conditions.

This study investigates the efficacy of hormone-induced artificial reproduction in goldfish () under controlled temperatures. Ovaprim injections significantly enhanced ovulation and sperm production compared to controls. Medium temperature (22 °C) produced the highest ovulation rates, fastest ovulation timing, and optimal sperm quality (motility and morphology) compared to high (28 °C) and low (16 °C) temperature groups.

Phylogenetic climatic niche evolution and diversification of the species (Salamandridae) in the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot.

This study explores how climate variables influenced the evolution and diversification of newts within the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot. We use a dated phylogenetic tree and climatic niche models to analyze their evolutionary history and ecological preferences. Using genetic data from nuclear (KIAA) and mitochondrial (16s and 12s) genes, we estimate divergence times and identify four major clades.

Metal nanoparticle-induced effects on green toads (Amphibia, Anura) under climate change: conservation implications.

The toxicity of aluminum oxide (AlO), copper oxide (CuO), iron oxide (FeO), nickel oxide (NiO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles (NPs) on amphibians and their interaction with high temperatures, remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the survival, developmental, behavioral, and histological reactions of Bufotes viridis embryos and larvae exposed to different NPs for a duration of 10 days, using lethal concentrations (LC25%, LC50%, and LC75% mg/L) under both ambient (AT: 18 °C) and high (HT: 21 °C) temperatures. Based on LC, NiONPs > ZnONPs > CuONPs > AlONPs > TiONPs > FeONPs showed the highest mortality at AT.

Marsh frog response to urea fertilizer during the embryonic, larval, and metamorphosis stages: a new perspective into urea toxicity on amphibians.

Amphibian populations are declining worldwide. These declines are caused by a variety of factors, one of which is the use of fertilizers in agriculture. This is especially true for tadpoles, which may develop in fertilizer-polluted agricultural water bodies.

Response of Iranian lizards to future climate change by poleward expansion, southern contraction, and elevation shifts.

This study explores the relationships between recent Iranian lizard species distributions and the observed climate, as well as potential future distributions of species. For this purpose, an ensemble of seven algorithms was used to forecast the distributions of 30 species for the recent and future (2070) based on the averages of 14 global climate models under optimistic (RCP2.6) and pessimistic (RCP8.

Historic range dynamics in Kaiser's mountain newt (): Insights from phylogeographic analyses and species distribution modeling.

Vulnerable Kaiser's mountain newt, , is endemic to highland streams, springs, and pools of the southwestern Zagros mountain, Iran. The present study aimed to use an integration of phylogeographical and species distribution modeling (SDM) approaches to provide new insights into the evolutionary history of the species throughout Quaternary climate oscillations. The phylogeographical analysis was followed by analyzing two mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) markers including 127 control region (D-loop) and 72 NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) sequences from 15 populations in the entire species range that were obtained from GenBank.

Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis reveals multiple Pleistocene glacial refugia for the Yellow-spotted mountain newt, (Caudata: Salamandridae) in the mid-Zagros range in Iran and Iraq.

Phylogeography is often used to investigate the effects of glacial cycles on current genetic structure of various plant and animal species. This approach can also identify the number and location of glacial refugia as well as the recolonization routes from those refugia to the current locations. To identify the location of glacial refugia of the Yellow-spotted mountain newt, we employed phylogeography patterns and genetic variability of this species by analyzing partial ND4 sequences (867 bp) of 67 specimens from 15 sampling localities from the whole species range in Iran and Iraq.

Variation in food availability mediate the impact of density on cannibalism, growth, and survival in larval yellow spotted mountain newts (Neurergus microspilotus): Implications for captive breeding programs.

In this study, we examined cannibalistic behavior, growth, metamorphosis, and survival in larval and post-metamorph endangered yellow spotted mountain newts Neurergus microspilotus hatched and reared in a captive breeding facility. We designed a 2 × 2 factorial experiment, crossing two levels of food with two levels of density including high food/high density, high food/low density, low food/high density, and low food/low density. The level of cannibalistic behavior (including the loss of fore and hind limbs, missing toes, tail, gills, body damage, and whole body consumption) changed as the larvae grew, from a low level during the first 4 weeks, peaking from weeks 7 to 12, and then dropped during weeks 14-52.

Variation in ectoparasite load in the Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in a nursery colony in western Iran.

We studied variation of ectoparasite load in a free ranging populations of Mehely's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) on five successive occasions in a nursery roost in western Iran. In total, 87 Rhinolophus mehelyi were captured. The patterns of abundance differed greatly among parasite species but total parasite load was markedly higher in pregnant females in spring and early summer and lower in solitary males.