THE NATIONAL RED LIST OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Marsh frog

Pelophylax ridibundus

Macedonian

Езерска жаба

Albanian

Bretkosa

Back to species overview
<< Previous -Agile frog
Eastern spadefoot-Next >>
Not evaluated Data deficient LEAST CONCERN Near threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically endangered Extinct in the wild Extinct
NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX
Taxonomy
Assessment info
Population
Habitat and Ecology
Threats
Use and Trade
Conservation Actions
Bibliography

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Pelophylax ridibundus

Authority

(Pallas, 1771)

Synonyms

Pelophylax ridibunda Pallas, 1771; Rana ridibunda Pallas, 1771

Assessment info

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria

LC – Least Concern

Date assessed

November 2019

Assessors

Bogoljub Sterijovski

Dragan Arsovski

Reviewers

Ajtic, R.

Contributors

/

Facilitators

Hofman, M.P.G.

Justification

Although this species is potentially threatened by the drainage of wetlands, pollution, agricultural intensification, urbanization, desertification, mortality on roads (migrating animals), and collection for food, it is still very widespread and abundant even in urban parks and ponds and therefore recognized as Least Concern. Globally and in Europe this species has been assessed as Least Concern.

Population

Current population trend

Stable

Description

This species is considered abundant in North Macedonia. Field observations suggest that the highest densities for the Marsh frog can be witnessed in Monospitovo marsh, Dojran Lake and Prespa Lake close to Ezerani, and its populations are likely stable nationwide.

Habitat and Ecology

System

Terrestrial|Freshwater (=Inland waters)

Habitat and Ecology

It is a highly opportunistic amphibian species. Widespread and adaptable, present in all types of permanent aquatic habitats, coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests, groves, bush-lands, meadows, arid areas, parks, gardens, springs, rivers and artificial and natural lakes. It is present in many modified habitats. It is also common within and in the vicinity of urban, suburban and rural areas. Its diet consist of dragonflies and other insects, spiders, earthworms and slugs. The Marsh Frog is active from mid March until beginning of October. Activity can be delayed and shortened at high altitudes starting mid April until mid September. Reproduction starts in late spring or early summer. The species spawns and larval development takes place in still waters and slow-moving parts of rivers and streams.

Use and trade

Use and trade

This species is hunted for food in Skopje, Kocani, Dojran and Gevgelija regions.

Threats

Threats

Habitat destruction due to urbanization, road construction, constructing the small hydro-electric power plants and discharge of pollutants into wetlands pose potential threats to this species. Nevertheless, this is a highly adaptive frog that can inhabit urban and semi-urban habitats and withstand pollution.

Conservation actions

Conservation actions

It is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and on Annex V of the EU Birds & Habitats Directive. Nationally, it is not on the list of the protected wild species of flora and fauna.

According to the “Strategy for biodiversity of Republic of North Macedonia” (Ministry of environment and physical planning, 2018) swamps, particularly high-altitude swamps are affected by degradation as a result of land conversion due to the intensification of agriculture, water supply shortage, irrigation, fish stocking, lack of waste water treatment and construction activities. Action plans for the conservation of this frog’s reproductive centers, i.e. wetlands are urgently needed.

The national action for the “prevention of loss, degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats of national and international importance” prioritises the following actions (National biodiversity strategy and action plan, 2018):

  • 10.4 Protection and restoration of swamp habitats/wetlands and riparian habitats

  • 10.4.1 Identification of the most affected lowland swamps/wetlands and preparation of action plans for their conservation

  • 10.4.2 Identification of the most affected high-altitude swamps/wetlands and preparation of action plans for their conservation

  • 10.4.3 Development of a plan and implementation of activities for the prevention of swamp and wetland degradation due to intensification of agriculture, irrigation, fish stocking and other activities of the economic sectors

  • 10.4.4 Implementation of pilot measures for the restoration of wetlands

Finally and unfortunately, the fungal threats Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans were recently detected in the Balkan Peninsula. These cause the disease known as Chytridiomycosis (Whittaker and Vredenburg, 2016) in amphibians. Studies have shown that climate change facilitates the spread of this disease (Pounds, A. 2006), and scientist suggest that pesticides may inhibit the innate immune defense, and increase susceptibility to this disease (Davidson et al. 2007). This calls for urgent preventative matters, primarily in the form of monitoring so that initial signs of the fungus in North Macedonia are caught timely and quarantined.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Gavrilovic, V., Cvetkovic, D.D., Djukic, G. and Petkovski, S. 1999 .Comparative morphological study of Rana balcanica and Rana ridibunda . .p 205-210.

Sillero, N., Campos, J., Bonardi, A., Corti, C., Creemers, R., Crochet, P.-A., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Denoël, M., Ficetola, G.F., Gonçalves, J., Kuzmin, S., Lymberakis, P., de Pous, P., Rodríguez, A., Sindaco, R., Speybroeck, J., Toxopeus, B., Vieites, D.R., Vences, M. 2014 Updated distribution and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles of Europe . .p 1-31.

Sterijovski, B. 2015. Conservation and protection status of amphibians in Macedonia. Pelagic Publishing. Exeter, UK. .p 67-73.

Doflein, F. 1921. Mazedonien, Erlebnisse und beobachtungen eines Naturforschers im gefolge des Deutschen heeres Verlang von Gustav Fischer Jena. .p 592.

Dimovski, А. 1963. Herpetofauna na skopska kotlina. I – zoogeografski i ekološki pregled. . .p 189-221.

Buresch, I., Zonkow, J. 1934. Untersuchungen über die Verbreitung der Reptilien und Amphibien in Bulgarien und auf der Balkanhalbinsel. 2. Schlangen (Serpentes). . .p 106-188 [in Bulgarian, with German summary]

Cyren, O. 1941. Beitriige zur Herpetologie der Balkanhalbinsel. – Mitteilungen aus den Konigl . .p 36-139.

Dimovski, A . 1971. Zoocenološki istražuvanja na stepskite predeli vo Makedonija. . .p 25-54.

Džukić, G. 1972. Herpetološka zbirka Prirodnjačkog muzeja u Beogradu. (Herpetological collection of the Belgrade Museum of Natural History).. .p165-180.

Hristovski, N. 1979. Nematodite od podred Oxyurata Skrjabin, 1923 vo Bitolsko.. .p 135-157.

Karaman, S. 1922. Beiträge zur Herpetologie von Mazedonien. . .p 278-299.

Karaman, S. 1937. Fauna južne Srbije . .p 161- 179. [in Serbian]

Mikes, M., Dzukic, G., Soti, J., Habijan, V. & Hristovski, N. 1981. Ispituvanja na faunata na tetrapodite na terenot od HMS “Strezevo” – Bitola . .p8 -224.

Melovski, Lj., Ivanov, Gj., Angelova, N., Velevski, M., Hristovski, S. 2008. Monospitovsko blato. Poslednoto mocuriste vo Makedonija. Opstina Bosilovo .Bosilovo . .p56.

Nikolovski, T. 1960. Gmizavci i vodozemci iz okoline Bitolja Diplomski rad, PMF Grupa za biologiju . Beograd. .p 12.

Radovanović, M. 1951. Vodozemci i gmizavci naše zemlje. Naučna knjiga Beograd . .p168.

Sidorovska, V., Petkovski, S. & Dzukic, G. 2001. The Green Frog Rana balcanica Schneider, Sinsch & Sofianidou, 1993 (Rana kurtmuelleri) (Amphlbia: Anura) in Macedonia. . .p 187-194.

Sidorovska, V., Petkovski, S.,Dzukic, G., Smith, R. D. 2006. The Pelister Dragon: Faunal and Zoogeographical Characteristics of Mt. Pelister Amphibians and Reptiles . .p 65-94.

Sterijovski, B., Stamatoski, B. 2002b. Results of the herpetological investigation on Ogražden Mt.. . .p 155-158.

Sterijovski, B., Stamatoski, B., Jovanoski, N., Spasikova, S. 2002a. Qualitative research of herpetofauna of Jakupica Massif . .p 151-154.

Sterijovski, B., Aleksovska, K., Tasevski, S. 2010b. Distribution and valorization of amphibians and reptiles on Jablanica Mountain. .p 81-85.

Sterijovski, B., Malceska, F., Tokov, T., Stamatoski, B., Tasevski, S .2010a .Qualitative research of Amphibians and Reptiles on Kozuf massive. .p 87-93.

ES “Ursus Speleos”-Skopje. 2011. Study for valorization of natural values of Multipurpose Area “Jasen”. GEF/UNDP/MoEPP. Skopje. .p 150.

MoEPP. 2010a. Study of revaluation of natural values of the Protected Area Monument of Nature “Canyon Matka”. MoEPP. Skopje . .p/.

MoEPP. 2010b. Study for revalorization of natural values of protected area “Tikves” Strict Nature Reserve. Skopje . .p/.

Micevski, B. 2015. Report of Biodiversity conditions of amphibians and reptiles of Ograzden Mt. 2014-2015. Skopje . .p/.

Oxfam Italia. 2011. Study for revalorization of Protected Area Mavrovo Skopje . .p/.

Uzunova, D., Kitanova, D., Spirovska, M., Hristovski, S .2015. Integral Report for the Project implementation. Final report of the project “Ecological data gap analysis and ecological sensitivity map development for the Bregalnica river watershed” . Skopje . .p/.

Sterijovski, B. 2018. Final report for monitoring. Maneko. Skopje . .p/.

Pharmachem. 2018. The Study on Biological Diversity in the Area of Sasa Mine – Makedonska Kamenica. Pharmachem Skopje. Skopje . .p/.

Uhrin et al. 2016. Distribution updates to amphibian and reptile fauna for the Republic of Macedonia . .p 201-220.

Ministry of environment and physical planning. 2018. National biodiversity strategy and action plan : for the period 2018 – 2023. Ministry of environment and physical planning.. Skopje . .p183.

Whittaker, Kellie & Vredenburg, Vance. 2016. “An Overview of Chytridiomycosis”
Pounds, A. 2006. Widespread Amphibian Extinctions from Epidemic Disease Driven by Global Warming . .p 161-167.

Davidson, C., Benard, M.F., Shaffer, H.B., Parker, J.M., O’Leary, C., Conlon, J.M., Rollins-Smith, L.A. 2007. Effects of chytrid and carbaryl exposure on survival, growth and skin peptide defenses in foothill yellow-legged frogs . .p 1771-1776.

Gasc, J-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martinez-Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.L., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M., Zuiderwijk, A. 1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica & Museum Nationall d’ Histoire Naturelle (IEGB/SPN). Paris. .p 496.

Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. 2019. NATIONAL biodiversity strategy and action plan : for the period 2019 – 2023 Skopje. .p 183.

Bioeco .2009. Feasibility Study for Ezerani . Skopje . .p/.