Changes in distribution of Aesculapian snake and implications for its active conservation in Poland

• Autorzy: Kurek K. , Najberek K. , Zajac B. , Bury S. , Cmiel A.M. , Bas G. , Najbar B.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In Poland, the Aesculapian snake, critically endangered at the edge of its European range, inhabits the lower parts of the Bieszczady Mts. in the SE of the country. This research, carried out between 2009 and 2014, included fieldwork in areas selected on the basis of historical literature data and the results of interviews. 51 breeding mounds were deployed at historical and potential sites of this snake's occurrence on the forested area of 220,886 ha as a supportive tool for detecting these reptiles. The 371 records of the Aesculapian snake obtained are displayed on maps showing its historical distribution in two periods (1958–1989 and 1995–1998) for comparison. Most records were collected in the centre of the species' range in the Bieszczady Mts. Most of the breeding mounds (17 out of 29) in this area were colonized by the snake, whereas only two sites were colonized in the outside. The results show that the Aesculapian snake's range in the Bieszczady Mts has been shrinking. However, most current single records outside the species' centre of occurrence are from localities close to its historical range; this suggests that relict populations may be surviving there. The proportion of records on the breeding mounds grew in consecutive years. This suggests that breeding mounds deployed near the snake's existing localities may be a useful tool for monitoring endangered oviparous snakes and their active conservation.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Aesculapian snake; snake fauna; distribution change; active conservation; breeding; Bieszczady Mountains; Zamenis longissimus

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2017
• Tom: 65
• Numer: 4
• Opis fizyczny: p.422-431,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Kurek K.

• Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31−120 Krakow, Poland

autor

Najberek K.

• Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31−120 Krakow, Poland

autor

Zajac B.

• Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 7 Gronostajowa St, 30−387 Krakow, Poland

autor

Bury S.

• Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 7 Gronostajowa St, 30−387 Krakow, Poland

autor

Cmiel A.M.

• Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31−120 Krakow, Poland

autor

Bas G.

• Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31−120 Krakow, Poland

autor

Najbar B.

• Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, 1 prof. Z. Szafrana St, 65−516 Zielona Gora, Poland

Bibliografia

• Ćwikowski C. 2013 — [Bieszczady and Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains] (In: [Nature of Polish Carpathians] Eds: A. Pępkowska-Król, R. Bobrek, T. Wilk) — Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków, Marki, pp. 148–157 (in Polish).
• Dodd C.K., Jr. 1993 — Status, Conservation, and Management (In: Snakes: ecology and evolutionary biology, Eds: R.A. Seigel, J.T. Collins, S.S. Novak) — The Blackburn Press, New Jersey, pp. 478–513.
• Edgar P., Bird D.R. 2006 — Action Plan for the Conservation of the Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus) in Europe. Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats — Standing Committee. 26th meeting. Strasbourg, pp. 23.
• Gherghel I., Strugariu A., Sahlean T. C., Zamfirescu O. 2009 — Anthropogenic impact or anthropogenic accommodation? Distribution range expansion of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) by means of artificial habitats in the north-eastern limits of its distribution range — Acta Herpet. 4: 183–189.
• Gibbons J.W., Scott D.E., Ryan T.J., Buhlmann K.A., Tuberville T.D., Metts B.S., Greene J. L., Mills T., Leiden Y., Poppy S., Winne C.T. 2000 — The global decline of reptiles, déjà vu amphibians — Bioscience, 50: 653–666.
• Głowaciński Z. 2003 — [Aeskulapian Snake Elaphe longissima] (In: [Atlas of the amphibians and reptiles of Poland. Status - distribution - conservation] Eds: Z. Głowaciński, J. Rafiński) — Biblioteka Monitoringu Środowiska, Warszawa-Kraków, pp. 93–95 (in Polish, English summary).
• Głowaciński Z., Szyndlar Z. 2001 — [Aeskulapian Snake Elaphe longissima] (In: [Polish Red Data Book of Animals] Eds: Z. Głowaciński, J. Rafiński) — PWRiL, Warszawa, pp. 281–283 (in Polish, English summary).
• Gomille A. 2002 — Die Äskulapnatter Elaphe longissima — Verbreitung und Lebensweise in Mitteleuropa — Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 158 pp.
• Heimes P. 1994 — Untersuchungen zur Ökologie und zum Verhalten der Äskulapnatter (Elaphe longissima) im Rheingau-Taunus — Inaugural-Dissertation der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn.
• Heimes P., Waitzmann M. 1993 — Die Äskulapnatter (Elaphe longissima [Laurenti, 1768]) in Deutschland (Reptilia. Serpentes: Colubridae) — Zoologische Abhandlungen. Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde Dresden, 47: 157–192.
• Janoušek K., Musilová R. 2009 — Aesculapian Snake in the Czech Republic (3) — ZOO Report, Brno, 4: 1–4.
• Kaźmierczak T. 1965a — [Distribution of the Aesculapian Snake i Elaphe longissima (Laur.) in Poland — Przeg. Zool. 9: 380–385 (in Polish).
• Kaźmierczak T. 1965b — [Aesculapian snake in Poland] — Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą, 21: 20–30 (in Polish).
• Kondracki J. 2000 — [Regional geography of Poland] — PWN, Warszawa, 440 pp. (in Polish).
• Kovar R., Brabec M., Vita R., Vodicka R., Bogdan V. 2016a — Habitats use of the Aesculapian snake, Zamenis longissimus, at the northern extreme of its range in northwest Bohemia — Herpet. Bull. 136: 1–9.
• Kovar R., Brabec M., Vita R., Vodicka R., Bogdan V. 2016b — Nesting and over-wintering sites of Aesculapian snake, Zamenis longissimus, in an anthropogenic landscape in the northern extreme of its range — Herpet. Bull. 136: 39–40.
• Kreiner G. 2007 — The Snakes of Europe — Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 317 pp.
• Kurek K., Bury S., Baś G., Najberek K., Kaczmarski M., Śnieżko S. 2014a — [Telemetry studies of the Aesculapian snake in the Bieszczady Mountains — preliminary results and evaluation of the methods used] — Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą, 70: 3–15 (in Polish, English summary).
• Kurek K., Holuk J., Bury S., Piotrowski M. 2014b — [Best practices manual for reptile protection] — Centrum Koordynacji Projektów Środowiskowych, Warszawa, 124 pp. (in Polish, English version online).
• Kurek K., Król W., Najberek K., Bury S., Najbar B., Babiasz R., Baś G., Potoczek M., Zięcik A., Ćmiel A., Wierzbanowski P. 2013 — Distribution, habitat requirements and conservation of the Aesculapian snake Zamenis longissimus in south-eastern Poland — 17th European Congress of Herpetology, Veszprém, Hungary, pp. 134.
• Kurek K., Najbar B., Bury S., Baś G. 2011 — [Active protection of the Aesculapian Snake Zamenis longissimus(Laurenti, 1768) in Western Bieszczady in 2009–2010] (In: [Biology of amphibians and reptiles, the protection of herpetofauna] Ed: Z. Zamachowski) — UP, Kraków, pp. 144–156 (in Polish).
• Leliévre H., Blouin-Demers G., Bonnet X., Lourdais O. 2010 — Thermal Benefits of Artificial Shelters in Snakes: A Radiotelemetric Study of Two Sympatric Colubrids — J. Therm. Biol. 35: 324–331.
• Löwenborg K., Shine R., Kärvemo S., Hagman M. 2010 — Grass snakes exploit anthropogenic heat sources to overcome distributional limits imposed by oviparity — Funct . Ecol. 24: 1095–1102.
• Mikátová B., Vlašín M. 2012 — [Distribution and biology of Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) in the territory of the Podyji and Thayatal National Parks and in their neighbourhood] — Thayensia (Znojmo), 9: 51–81 (in Czech, English summary).
• Musilová R., Zavadil V., Kotlík P. 2007 — Isolated populations of Zamenis longissimus (Reptilia: Squamata) above the northern limit of the continuous range in Europe: origin and conservation status — Acta Soc. Zool. Bohem. 71: 197–208.
• Najbar B. 2000a — The state of the Aesculapian snake Elaphe l. longissima [Laurenti, 1768] population in Poland — B Pol. Acad. Sci.-Biol. 48: 53–64.
• Najbar B. 2000b — The Aesculapian snake Elaphe l. longissima [Laurenti, 1768] population in Bieszczady [Poland] between 1990-1998 — B Pol. Acad. Sci.-Biol. 48: 40–51.
• Najbar B. (2002) — [Protection of Snakes and Their Habitats] — Wydawnictwo Klubu Przyrodników, Świebodzin, 77 pp. (in Polish).
• Najbar B. 2004a — [Aesculapian Snake] — Monografie przyrodnicze. Wydawnictwo Klubu Przyrodników, Świebodzin, 104 pp. (in Polish)
• Najbar B. 2004b — [Aesculapian Snake Elaphe (Zamenis) longissima (Laurenti, 1768) in Western Bieszczady] — Oficyna Wydawnicza Uniwersytetu Zielonogórskiego, 140 pp. (in Polish).
• Nowosad M. 1995 — [Outlines of climate of the Bieszczady National Park and its Buffer zone in the light of previous studies] — Roczniki Bieszczadzkie, 4: 163–183 (in Polish).
• Patoczka P., Ząbek E. 2000 — [Changes in cultural landscape resources of the Bieszczady Mts.] — Roczniki Bieszczadzkie, 9: 263–272 (in Polish).
• Poethke H.J., Seitz A., Wissel C. 1996 — Species survival and metapopulations: conservation implications from ecological theory (In: Species survival in fragmented landscapes Springer Netherlands, Eds: J. Settele, C. Margules, P. Poschlod, K. Henle) — Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Kluwer, pp. 81–92.
• Przybylska K., Banaś J. 1997 — [Forests of Bieszczady Region — their Condition and Tendencies of Forest Management] — Sylwan, 141: 61–70 (in Polish).
• Reading C.J., Luiselli L.M., Akani G.C., Bonnet X., Amori G., Ballouard J.M., Filippi E., Naulleau G., Pearson D., Rugiero L. 2010 — . Are snake population in widespread decline? Biology letters, 6: 777–780.
• Shine R., Bonnet X. 2009 — Reproductive Biology, Population Viability, and Options for Field Management (In: Snakes: ecology and conservation, Eds: S.J. Mullin, R.A. Seigel) — Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, pp. 172–200.
• Szyndlar Z. 1984 — [Past and present distribution of Aesculapian snake, Elaphe longissima (Laurenti) at the territory of Poland] — Przeg. Zool. 28: 513–523 (in Polish, English summary).
• Waitzmann M. 1993 — Zur Situation der Äskulapnatter Elaphe longissima (Laurenti, 1768) in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland — Mertensiella, 3: 115–133 (in German).

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.3161/15052249PJE2017.65.4.011