Unusual Activity Patterns in Anuran and Urodela Species During the Hibernation Period

Hibernation is an important strategy that allows amphibian species to survive in cold weather conditions by minimizing their metabolic activities. This study reports unusual activity patterns of 7 different amphibian species across Türkiye. The findings, based on 16 different observation data, reveal that these species exhibit different behaviors during the winter period, a time when they are typically inactive. During the observations, it was found that soil and air temperatures are related to the timing of the species, activities. The data suggests that the movement of these species during this period could be triggered by local temperature increases or other environmental variables. Notably, some species were observed to surface or become active in response to short-term temperature increases. This phenomenon is important for studying the effects of global climate change on amphibian species. However, the ecological consequences of these behaviors, such as their impact on energy expenditure and predation risk, have not yet been fully understood. The findings of this study aim to contribute to the understanding of the ecological and environmental impacts of unusual activity during the hibernation period. Furthermore, they provide valuable insights into the ecology of amphibian species in Türkiye, offering important clues for conservation biology.