Usova O. The ecological significance of intrapopulation diversity of ontogenetic strategies on the example of hybridogenic complex of water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex).

Object - Pelophylax esculentus complex representatives from Seversko-Donetskiy center of their diversity of water frogs. The aim is to establish the laws that that manifest themselves in intrapopulation diversity of growth and development of Pelophylax esculentus complex representatives from Seversko-Donetskiy center of their diversity of water frogs. Methods are gathering, express definition, skeletochronology age determination and retrospective identification of the growth dynamics, statistics, simulation. 612 representatives of water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex) from Seversko-Donetskiy center of their diversity (Kharkivska oblast) and from neighboring territories, which belong to the Dnipro catch basin, have been studied using skeletochronology. The sample included P. ridibundus, P. lessonae as well as diploid and triploid P. esculentus. Beside skeletochronological study, fecundity of 59 females was estimated. Differences in ontogenetic strategies between competing forms of water frogs can promote their sustainable coexistencein one hemiclonal population system. It is hypothesized that this condition contributes to the stability of the R-E-HPS, which are widely distributed in the Seversko-Donetskiy center of the Pelophylax esculentus complex diversity. Application spheres are population management, educational process.