Citizen science data reveals widespread sexual dichromatism in the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra)
Integrating citizen science data in this study enabled a comparison of fire salamander populations across large parts of their distribution and highlights widespread sexual dichromatism. Future studies should further investigate potential mechanisms of mate choice in fire salamanders and other selective forces on coloration such as differential predation pressure between both sexes or the role in crypsis. Lastly, multi-national studies supported by citizen science data could fully unravel the extent of color variation in this species.
Authors
- Maximilian Fischer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7832-5671)
- P. Oswald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5920-8397)
- J. Maximilian Dehling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3533-5287)
- Xenia Schlindwein (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4224-6506)
- Paul Bachhausen
- Barbara A. Caspers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4380-0476)
- Max Mühlenhaupt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0234-2533)
- Thomas Bamann
- Laura Schulte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2259-9443)
- Michael Veith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7530-4856)
- Sabrina Bleidißel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1411-2508)
- Nils Anthes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4189-7849)
- Richard D. Hey
- Oliver Krüger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1524-1494)
- Sean G. Grond (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7812-9048)
- Lara Gemeinhardt
- Manuela Schmidt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5931-8596)
- Louise Laux
- K. Egle
- Saskia Ebert
- Hannes Egle
- Simeon Egle
- Heidi Enderlein
- Ricarda D. Gundert
- Ronny Schwalbe
- Theresa Stipp
- Frederik Wietbrok
- Michelle Starp
- Eike Bovensmann
- Jürgen Braunsdorf
Institutions
- Koblenz University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- University of Wuppertal (DE)
- Bielefeld University (DE)
- Hochschule Bielefeld (DE)
- Robert Koch Institute (DE)
- Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart (DE)
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (DE)
- BUND Naturschutz (DE)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Urologie (DE)
- Klinikum Lippe (DE)
- Diabetesinstitut Heidelberg (DE)
- KLS Martin (Germany) (DE)
- Fraunhofer Project Centre Wolfsburg (DE)
- Bergmann und Partner Rechtsanwälte (DE)
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Universität Trier (DE)
- Leipzig University (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Ecology and Evolution
- Published
- 2025-11-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-025-02461-0
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.11
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Universität Bielefeld