CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF THE COMMON TOAD, <i>BUFO BUFO</i> (AMPHIBIA, BUFONIDAE) IN NEW MOSCOW
Background. The common toad, Bufo bufo is the most vulnerable urban amphibian. In European countries, this abundant species is rapidly decreasing both inside the settlements and outside them. The shrinking habitats, expansion and congestion transportation network are the most common causes in both cases. The common toad in the past was a widespread species and inhabited most of the green urban areas on the territory of Old Moscow, i.e., before its expansion due to the annexation of some large areas from the Troitskiy and Naro-Fominskiy districts of the Moscow region in 2012 (the so-called "New Moscow" project). At present, the common toad has apparently disappeared in most parks and forest parks of Old Moscow, or has reduced its population to critically small. In recent decades, it has been found only in few places and only within the largest existing protected areas on the periphery of the modern Moscow boundaries. The purpose of this paper is to study the distribution of B. bufo on the territory attached by Moscow in 2012 (the "New Moscow" project). Materials and methods. Our research was conducted in 2017-2020 on the territory of the Novomoskovskiy and Troitskiy administrative districts of Moscow. The distribution investigation was carried out from April to September. Potential spawning reservoirs were examined in the spring, during the daytime, also clutches of eggs, larvae, and adult toads were marked. In the summer and autumn, toads were found on the routes at twilight and at night; sometimes we counted dead toads on the roads. Results. The species is still widespread in New Moscow. According to our data and studies of other researchers, there are 35 locations of the common toad, including 8 in Novomoskovskiy and 27 in Troitskiy districts. The authors believe that there is a chance to preserve the common toad in Moscow. It requires the organization of protected areas with clearly defined boundaries on the existing green urban areas and conducting activities aimed at improving the habitat