Field and laboratory observations of the Yellow Spotted Newt, Neurergus microspilotus (Nestrov, 1917), in western Iran have yielded preliminary data on conservation biology and distribution of this species. New distributional ranges have been determined for Neurergus microspilotus in its Iranian range in the mid-Zagros Mountains. In streams occupied by Neurergus microspilotus, dissolved oxygen, temperature, discharge, NO3, and PO4 were measured. Land use practices, adjacent riparian habitats and channel substrate were also determined. Four new stream habitats were identified. On the basis of interviews with local inhabitants, three other streams were identified as likely habitat for Neurergus microspilotus. Measurements of relative abundance of N. microsphilotus indicate that this animal is likely to occur in higher numbers in cold and first order streams located at high altitudes in the western edge of the Iranian plateau on the mid-Zagros Range. The limiting factor for the yellow spotted newts in western Iran appears to be human disturbance. In the last four years, one of the five known streams with N. microspilotus, in the area of Ghorighala, has virtually lost its entire population due to pollution by a tourist facility and local sewage effluence
کلید واژگان :Neurergus microspilotus, salamander, first order stream, distribution, conservation.
ارزش ریالی : 600000 ریال
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