The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.


pdf 01. Summer microhabitat use and diel activity cycles in a high altitude Pyrenean population of [I]Rana temporaria[/I]

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Open Access

pp.49-56

Authors: Miguel Vences , Pedro Galan , Antonio Palanca , David R. Vieites , Sandra Ni Eto And Jorge Rey

Abstract: Habitat use and activity was studied in a common frog (Rana temporaria) population at an altitude of 2200 m in the Circo de Piedrafita, Spain, was studied during July 1998. Adult and juvenile frogs clearly selected moist microhabitats, and avoided dry substrates such as pasture and rocks. Marshes and puddles were the preferred microhabitat of both adults and juveniles; the shore and the water body itself of a larger pond were selected by adults but much less so by juveniles. Regular surveys over seven days indicated that adults showed both diurnal and nocturnal activity, whereas juveniles were more strictly diurnal. The percentage of adults observed at night in the pond was negatively correlated with the minimum air temperature. The rather aquatic habits and diurnal activity patterns appear to differ from low-altitude populations of R. temporaria. They are discussed as adaptations to the lack of humid substrates (forest leaf litter) at high altitudes, and to the extreme and unpredictable climatic conditions (low nocturnal temperatures, and sudden rapid temperature decreases at night) in montane environments.

Keywords: frog, Spain, Pyrenees, alpine environments, activity, microhabitat

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IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.

 

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