Abstract
The life cycle of tree frogs (Hyla savygnyi) in localities of various habitats in northern Israel in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights (annual rainfall range of 500-1,000 mm) and the Hula Valley, ranging from 212 to 740 m above sea level (ASL), was studied. Tree frogs were observed around winter rain pools, springs and streams. Fifty-one different breeding places were monitored. Only ponds and springs having stable non-flowing water are used by tree frogs for reproduction and are where larvae can metamorphose. The male call in the breeding places attracts the female, who then comes to the male, and breeding occurs underwater. Breeding time in Israel varies according to location and geographical and ecological conditions. It takes place in March-April in northern Israel, the Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Hula Valley. In various breeding places, larvae grow between April and June. Apparently tree frog larvae adapt to breeding places where stable water is found, such as in ponds or springs, but not to breeding places with flowing water such as streams or rivers. Various Anuran and Urodela larvae were found in the same breeding sites where the larvae of H. savygnyi were found, including Pseudepidalea Viridis, Rana bedriagae, Pelobates syriacus, Salamandra infraimmaculata and Triturs vittatus. Following metamorphosis, H. savygnyi adapt to terrestrial life in semi-arid habitats, and is found on plants or in hiding places under rocks and in holes to prevent dehydration particularly during hot and dry weather. The ability to change color helped the frogs to hide in various substrates. The rate of water loss of terrestrial H. savygnyi during dehydration is around 50% of body weight. Plasma osmolality increased from 200 mOsm/kg to about 450 mOsm/kg, which helped the tree frog to survive in semi-arid habitats.
Highlights
The distribution, morphology, ecology and taxonomy of tree frogs (Hyla savygnyi) in the Middle East have been studied quite extensively (Degani, Nagar, & Yom-Din, 2012; Gomez, Gauthier, & Lengagne, 2011; Grach, 2007; Gvoždík, 2010; Stock, 2008)
(Gvoždík, 2010 ), who carried out extensive mtDNA studies, suggested that H. savygnyi can be found in Israel and the Golan Heights, and that their geographic distribution includes Jordan, Syria and Lebanon
Coloration and call structure, H. heinzsteinitzi is located at three sites in a small area in the Judean Hills within a 6x13 km range at altitudes of 730-895 m above sea level (ASL) (Grach, 2007)
Summary
The distribution, morphology, ecology and taxonomy of tree frogs (Hyla savygnyi) in the Middle East have been studied quite extensively (Degani, Nagar, & Yom-Din, 2012; Gomez, Gauthier, & Lengagne, 2011; Grach, 2007; Gvoždík, 2010; Stock, 2008). Many aspects of H. savygnyi distribution (Degani & Kaplan, 1999; Stock et al, 2012) related to its life cycle have been studied, e.g., larvae growth at the breeding site and complete metamorphosis (Degani, 1982; Degani, 1986; Goldberg, Eviatar, & Degani, 2009), adult behavior (Degani, 2013), genetic variation of different populations (Degani, Nagar, & Yom-Din, 2012; Nevo, 1979), physiology (Degani, 1984) and morphology (Degani, 2013; Kalayci, 2015). The current study examines the life cycle and adaption of different breeding sites to the terrestrial environment of the tree frog (H. savygnyi) and provides more information about the adaption of this species to semi-arid conditions
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