Ecological, Biological and Genetic Adaptation to Xeric Habitats of Salamandra infraimmaculata on the Southern Border of Its Distribution - Open Journal of Animal Sciences

OJAS > Vol.7 No.1, January 2017

Ecological, Biological and Genetic Adaptation to Xeric Habitats of Salamandra infraimmaculata on the Southern Border of Its Distribution ()

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DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2017.71007 1,767 Downloads 2,957 Views Citations

Author(s)

Gad Degani^1,2

Affiliation(s)

¹Faculty of Science and Technology, Tel-Hai Academic College, Kiryat Shmona, Israel.
²MIGAL-Galilee Technology Center, Kiryat Shmona, Israel.

ABSTRACT

In the present mini-review, published and unpublished data that have been collected for more than 40 years on the adaption of Salamandra infraimmaculata to semi-arid environments on the southern border of its distribution are presented. The contribution of the present paper is in building a model based on comparing moist habitats with predictable and relatively constant conditions to semi-arid habitats with relatively dry conditions. Based on these parameters, the model suggests adaptation to semi-arid habitats. More specifically, this model is based on the morphology, biology, behavior, life cycle and physiology of S. infraimmaculata adaptation. By considering these many parameters, one hypothesis was raised and was supported. The adaptation to and selection of semi-arid habitats depend mainly on the terrestrial phase and very little on the aquatic phases. In all of the semi-arid habitats, there are various breeding places where the larvae can grow and complete metamorphosis. The molecular genetic variation among the various areas supports our hypothesis, and the difference in the moist habitats is greater than in the semi-arid environments.

KEYWORDS

Adaptation, Distribution, Genetic, Life Cycle, Salamandra infraimmaculata

Share and Cite:

Degani, G. (2017) Ecological, Biological and Genetic Adaptation to Xeric Habitats of Salamandra infraimmaculata on the Southern Border of Its Distribution. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 7, 70-92. doi: 10.4236/ojas.2017.71007.

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