Ponds in “Greater Haidary”: Iskov Pond, Koryakov Yar, Lower Dobrytskyi Pond

On May 25 we surveyed three ponds in what we call “Greater Haidary” (our unofficial name for surroundings of our university field station in Haidary and Homilsha Forests National Nature Park). Of the three ponds discussed, Iskov Pond has the most substantial study history. In 1995 our Tambov colleague G.A. Lada described frog population systems in Iskov and Koryakov ponds consisting almost exclusively of diploid hybrids. In 2000 the pond was drained; after that it went through a series of transformations in frog population structure. In recent years, Alena Meleshko has monitored its composition using marking and recapture. Last year, sexually mature green frogs were practically absent in Iskov Pond. Here is Iskov Pond. [IMG_1] Water level is catastrophically low. [IMG_2] Spawning is ongoing but weak. In a dug cattle watering hole (which turned out isolated from the pond) there are several Pelophylax esculentus males and many crucian carps. [IMG_3] [IMG_4] Hornets fly to the water to drink; dragonflies hunt above it. [IMG_5] [IMG_6] Carpet... [IMG_7] [IMG_8] Completely unexpected for us was what we saw at Koryakov Yar. In recent years this pond was almost dry, and only single frogs were observed. As in recent years, the pond is small and almost fully covered by duckweed... [IMG_9] ...but we saw an excellent spawning cauldron of actively vocalizing Pelophylax esculentus males. [IMG_10] It seemed to me that abundance... [IMG_11] [IMG_12] [IMG_13] [IMG_14] [IMG_15] [IMG_16] [IMG_17] [IMG_18] [IMG_19] [IMG_20] [IMG_21] [IMG_22] [IMG_23] [IMG_24] [IMG_25] [IMG_26] [IMG_27] [IMG_28] [IMG_29] [IMG_30] Among hysterically calling males, single amplexus pairs appeared. Those pairs were very cautious and immediately sank to the bottom when I approached within a few meters. [IMG_31] [IMG_32] Do you see egg clutches right among spawning males? [IMG_33] Among males, almost all are Pelophylax esculentus; Pelophylax ridibundus males seem to occur, but I did not catch any (I first sampled random males, then when there were too many I stopped and later caught only pairs and females). Among females, both hybrids and parental species representatives are present. [IMG_34] [IMG_35] [IMG_36] [IMG_37] [IMG_38] Most males scream desperately at surface; some sit on the bottom. In ambush? [IMG_39]