Journal articles on the topic 'Reptile populations'
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1
McInerny, C. J. "The study and conservation of adders in Scotland." Glasgow Naturalist 27, Supplement (2018): 67–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.37208/tgn27s10.
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This paper describes two projects that explored the study and conservation of European adders (Vipera berus) and other reptiles in Scotland. One involved the implementation of an environmental mitigation plan during the construction of a hydroelectric scheme through an area of high reptile densities. The other involved the monitoring of a population of adders in a highly managed environment on a golf course. In both cases the adder numbers persisted suggesting that the populations were not affected, and so they illustrate situations where this reptile species can co-exist with humans. Finally, more general observations about reptile habitat requirements and conservation in Scotland are inferred from these studies.
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Teixeira, Camila Palhares, Luiza Passos, Vinicius D. L. R. Goulart, Andre Hirsch, Marcos Rodrigues, and Robert J. Young. "Evaluating patterns of human–reptile conflicts in an urban environment." Wildlife Research 42, no. 7 (2015): 570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr15143.
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Context Reptiles, especially snakes, can cause a fear reaction in the public and are, therefore, a good model to examine human–wildlife conflicts. Human city dwellers often respond to the presence of snakes or other reptiles by calling out the responsible agency for animal control, which has to mediate the situation. Aims To determine how the temporal and spatial occurrence of human–reptile conflicts were associated with environmental conditions and socio-economic factors in a large Brazilian city (Belo Horizonte). Methods The callout reports of the Environmental Police of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, over a 7-year period from 2002 to 2008 to mediate reptile conflicts were analysed. Densities of callouts were determined by kernel-density estimator and matched with the vegetation cover and land use, to determine how the environment affected reptile callout distribution. The study area was divided into nine regions with different socio-economic and demographic characteristics to evaluate the possible effects of human factors in the conflict. Key results Reptile callouts were almost exclusively about snakes or freshwater turtles, despite a large population of wild lizards. In general, the difference in callout distribution of snakes and freshwater turtles was the result of different attitudes from city dwellers on the basis of socio-economic characteristics. Snakes were less frequent as urbanisation increased, whereas freshwater turtles were associated with water or open areas. Significantly, more conflicts occurred during the rainy season. People in areas of high per capita income used the Environmental Police as mediators more often than did those in poorer areas, but callouts were not related to human population density. Conclusions Habitat type and climate were significantly predictive of human–reptile conflicts. Human populations with higher salaries and education levels tended to resolve their conflicts with reptiles using official mediators whether the reptile was venomous or not. Implications The environmental and climatic data show that it is possible to predict when and where human–reptile conflicts are most likely. Thus, official mediators can use this information for targeted education programs. Such education programs should emphasise, at all levels of society, how to deal with such conflicts sensibly, so as to ensure the best outcomes for people and reptiles.
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Slavenko, Alex, Erez Maza, and Yuval Itescu. "Results of the First Herpetological Survey of Israel’s Mediterranean Coastal Islets." Russian Journal of Herpetology 28, no. 4 (September 1, 2021): 231–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2021-28-4-231-236.
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Small islets in the Mediterranean Sea are often home to reptiles, typically representing an impoverished sample of the continental fauna, yet with high population densities and signs of rapid morphological and behavioral evolution. In this paper, we present the first herpetofaunal survey of several small islet clusters in close proximity to the Mediterranean coast of Israel, only recently geologically separated from the mainland. We performed surveys of five islets during March of 2017 – 2018 and recorded the presence of five different species of reptiles on four of the surveyed islets. Species richness varied between 1 and 4 species, and appeared to be correlated with island area, with a distinct nested structure. Reptile species may have colonized the islets by natural dispersal from nearby coastal populations, or by hitch-hiking on fishing boats and similar methods of human-assisted dispersal. Alternatively, the recorded reptiles may represent relictual populations from earlier geologic periods, when lower sea-levels supported continuous land-bridges between the islets and the mainland. These insular reptile populations require further study to establish the exact means of colonization and describe if and how they differ from mainland populations. We stress the importance of such small Mediterranean islets such as these as centers of unique biodiversity and encourage future study and conservation action aimed at them and similar islets.
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Maute, Kimberly, Kristine French, C. Michael Bull, Paul Story, and Grant Hose. "Current insecticide treatments used in locust control have less of a short-term impact on Australian arid-zone reptile communities than does temporal variation." Wildlife Research 42, no. 1 (2015): 50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14194.
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Context Despite the regular use of pesticides to control locusts, there is a lack of information on the effects of locust-control treatments on reptiles worldwide. Exposure to pesticides poses a significant potential hazard to small reptiles, both from the direct effects of exposure, and indirectly because of their largely insectivorous diet and small home ranges. Aims Our study aimed to monitor the effects of two insecticides applied operationally for locust control in Australia. A phenyl pyrazole pesticide, fipronil, and a fungal biopesticide, Metarhizium acridium (Green Guard®), were applied aerially in either a barrier or block treatment in the absence of dense locust populations, and effects on non-target arid-zone reptiles were measured. Methods We monitored reptile-abundance and community-composition responses to treatments using a large field-based pitfall-trapping experiment, with replicated control and spraying treatments, which approximated the scale of aerial-based locust-control operations in Australia. Key results Neither reptile abundance nor community composition was significantly affected by locust-control treatments. However, both abundance and community composition as detected by pitfall trapping changed over time, in both control and treatment plots, possibly as a result of a decrease in annual rainfall. Conclusions The absence of any significant short-term pesticide treatment effects in our study suggests that the two locust-control application methods studied present a relatively insignificant hazard to reptiles at our site, based on a single application. Similar to other areas of Australia, climate and other factors are likely to be stronger drivers of reptile abundance and community structure. Implications Monitoring over an area that approximates the scale of the current locust-control operations is an important step in understanding the possible effects of current pesticide exposure on reptile populations and will inform insecticide risk assessments in Australia. However, important information on the immediate response of individuals to insecticide application and long-term effects of exposure are missing. The preliminary research reported in the present paper should be complemented by future investigations on long-term and sublethal impacts of pesticide exposure on Australian native reptiles and the possible benefits provided to reptiles by the resource pulses represented in untreated high-density locust populations.
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Vasconcelos, Raquel, Eudald Pujol-Buxó, Gustavo A. Llorente, Ahmed Saeed, and Salvador Carranza. "Micro-Hotspots for Conservation: An Umbrella Tree Species for the Unique Socotran Reptile Fauna." Forests 11, no. 3 (March 21, 2020): 353. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f11030353.
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Umbrella species are defined as species that can be rare and sensitive to human disturbance, whose protection may confer the protection of other co-occurring species. The dragon’s blood tree Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. was already considered an umbrella species on Socotra Island (Indic Ocean, Yemen) due to its ecological importance for some native biota. We studied the reptile community living on D. cinnabari from Socotra Island. We sampled reptiles on trees across most D. cinnabari populations and applied co-occurrence and network partition analyses to check if the presence of reptiles on D. cinnabari populations was random or structured. Regardless of its patched and scarce actual distribution, we report the use of this tree as a habitat by more than half of the reptile community (12 endemic reptiles). Co-occurrence and network partition analyses demonstrate that this community is structured across the distribution of dragon’s blood trees, reflecting complex allopatric, vicariant, and biotic interaction processes. Hence, these trees act as micro-hotspots for reptiles, that is, as areas where endemic and rare species that are under threat at the landscape scale co-occur. This Socotra endemic tree is currently threatened by overgrazing, overmaturity, and climate change. Its protection and declaration as an umbrella species are expected to benefit the reptile community and to protect evolutionary processes that are partially driven by the ecological links between reptiles and this tree. To our knowledge, no tree species has been proposed as an umbrella species for island vertebrate endemics so far, highlighting the ecological uniqueness of Socotra Island.
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Schlesinger, CA, JC Noble, and T. Weir. "Fire Studies in Mallee (Eucalyptus Spp.) Communities of Western New South Wales: Reptile and Beetle Populations in Sites of Differing Fire History." Rangeland Journal 19, no. 2 (1997): 190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9970190.
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Reptile and terrestrial beetle populations were sampled within adjoining mallee communities of similar botanical composition, but differing in fire history and vegetation structure. Studies were aimed at determining whether there were any major differences between faunal communities in sites with different fire histories. While the number of beetle species captured was significantly higher in the two most recently burnt sites, overall abundance of beetles did not differ significantly between various fire histories. Captures of Carenurn interiove were highest in a site burnt seven years prior to the study whereas captures of Tvichocarenum sp. were most common in the two most recently burnt areas. The number of reptile species captured did not differ significantly between sites but the relative abundance of nocturnal and diurnal reptiles was found to be significantly related to time since last fire. The number of geckos captured at the oldest fire site (burnt 18 years earlier) were significantly fewer than at the more recently burnt sites whereas captures of diurnal lizards did not differ. These patterns of reptile abundance are consistent with those found in other fire studies undertaken in similar habitats. This preliminary study confirms that both reptiles and beetles may be usefully incorporated in future management systems designed to monitor biological diversity in mallee ecosystems. Key words: fire, mallee, porcupine grass, nocturnal and diurnal reptiles and beetles
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Vera, David Gustavo, Diego Omar Di Pietro, Germán Tettamanti, Manuel Eirin, Clara Trofino Falasco, María Florencia Aranguren, Jorge Daniel Williams, Federico Pablo Kacoliris, and Igor Berkunsky. "An annotated list of the reptiles of the highland grassland of Tandilia Mountains, Argentina." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 16, no. 1 (March 9, 2021): 185–204. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.16.e60629.
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The study of biodiversity is a fundamental step to develop conservation strategies. Reptile populations are immersed in a global crisis, due to anthropic disturbances. Almost the entire Pampa ecoregion in Argentina was modified for agricultural and livestock activities, the only remnants of mountain native grasslands in Buenos Aires province being the Tandilia and Ventania mountain systems. Ventania reptiles have been exhaustively researched in last years, while Tandilia counts with fewer studies. We presented an actualized reptiles list of the Tandilia Mountain System. We used five data sources to collect presence records: literature, fieldwork, museum collection, citizen science, and a online database. The composition of reptiles from the Tandilia Mountain range includes 26 species in 12 families. Due to the presence of several endemic reptiles, and the representativeness of more than half of the reptiles of Pampa Ecoregion, Tandilia would be useful to determine conservation priority areas to conserve the native grassland and their reptile fauna.
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Hu, Yang, Graeme Gillespie, and Tim S. Jessop. "Variable reptile responses to introduced predator control in southern Australia." Wildlife Research 46, no. 1 (2019): 64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr18047.
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Context Australia harbours an immense diversity of reptiles, which are generally expected to have frequent and diverse trophic interactions with introduced mammalian carnivores. Nevertheless, the potential for predatory or competitive interactions is likely to be contingent on multiple processes, including the importance of reptiles in the diet of introduced predators, alongside overlaps in their body sizes and ecological niches that would influence the strength of their interactions. In Australia’s temperate and relatively productive mesic environments there is little understanding of how introduced mammalian predators affect reptile assemblages. Aims The aim was to investigate the effects that a European red fox (Vulpes vulpes; 5–7kg) suppression program had on the abundance and species richness of a reptile community, with species ranging in size from the largest local ectothermic predator, the lace monitor (Varanus varius; 4–7kg), to small terrestrial reptiles (mostly 10–150g). Methods We utilised two sampling designs (baited camera monitoring stations and pitfall trapping) to evaluate the effects of fox suppression and other site-level ecological covariates (fire regime and habitat vegetation characteristics) on the lace monitor and small terrestrial reptiles. Reptile abundance and richness at site level were estimated from count-related abundance models. Key results For lace monitors, significantly higher abundances occurred in poison-baited areas relative to control areas. This suggests that fox suppression can affect the populations of the lace monitor via mesopredator release arising from reduced competition and, possibly, predation. For small terrestrial reptiles, neither abundance nor species richness were influenced by fox suppression. Individual abundances of the three most common small reptile species matched the overall pattern, as only responses to structural parameters of the habitat were detected. Conclusions Fox suppression can have different impacts for different reptile taxa, pending their ecological niche, as only the largest species was affected. Implications Increase in lace monitor abundance may change food web dynamics in fox-suppressed sites, such as by increasing predation pressure on arboreal marsupials.
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Kverková, Kristina, Alexandra Polonyiová, Lukáš Kubička, and Pavel Němec. "Individual and age-related variation of cellular brain composition in a squamate reptile." Biology Letters 16, no. 9 (September 2020): 20200280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0280.
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Within-species variation in the number of neurons, other brain cells and their allocation to different brain parts is poorly studied. Here, we assess these numbers in a squamate reptile, the Madagascar ground gecko ( Paroedura picta ). We examined adults from two captive populations and three age groups within one population. Even though reptiles exhibit extensive adult neurogenesis, intrapopulation variation in the number of neurons is similar to that in mice. However, the two populations differed significantly in most measures, highlighting the fact that using only one population can underestimate within-species variation. There is a substantial increase in the number of neurons and decrease in neuronal density in adult geckos relative to hatchlings and an increase in the number of neurons in the telencephalon in fully grown adults relative to sexually mature young adults. This finding implies that adult neurogenesis does not only replace worn out but also adds new telencephalic neurons in reptiles during adulthood. This markedly contrasts with the situation in mammals, where the number of cortical neurons declines with age.
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Triska, Maggie D., Michael D. Craig, Vicki L. Stokes, Roger P. Pech, and Richard J. Hobbs. "Conserving reptiles within a multiple-use landscape: determining habitat affiliations of reptile communities in the northern jarrah forest of south-western Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 65, no. 1 (2017): 21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo16074.
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Disturbed landscapes can provide habitat for a variety of species; however, for fauna, a strong understanding of their habitat affiliations is critical both to detect species and to develop management prescriptions to maintain their populations. We assessed habitat affiliations of common, uncommon and rare reptile species in a multiple-use landscape, the northern jarrah forest of south-western Australia. To identify predictors of reptile occurrence, we related reptile presence/absence, or relative abundance, to habitat, climatic and seasonal variables. Because the reptiles studied have cryptic behaviours and low numbers of detections, we used a combination of analyses including non-metric multi-dimensional scaling, occupancy and regression models. We identified specific habitat affiliations for the most common species and potential linkages with vegetation structure for most uncommon species. There were insufficient detections to determine habitat affiliations accurately for most rare species. Often species were detected too infrequently to determine specific habitat variables that influence occupancy and detection, and altering survey time and scale may increase detections so that habitat affiliations can be determined. However, in highly speciose landscapes, like our study area, we may not be able to wait until we have enough detections to define the habitat affiliations of all reptiles before we make management decisions. Therefore management activities that maintain habitat heterogeneity and complexity is likely to be the best strategy to conserve the most reptile species.
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Yahner, Richard, William Bramble, and W. Richard Byrnes. "Response of Amphibian and Reptile Populations to Vegetation Maintenance of an Electric Transmission Line Right-Of-Way." Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 27, no. 4 (July 1, 2001): 215–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2001.023.
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A 2-year study of amphibian and reptile populations was conducted on a 500-kV transmission line right-of-way (ROW) of PECO Energy in the Piedmont Physiographic Province, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S., from June through July 1999, September through October 1999, and March through October 2000. The objectives were to compare the diversity and relative abundance of amphibians and reptiles between the ROW and the adjacent forest, among five treatment units on the ROW, and between wire and borders zones on treatments on the ROW. Eight species were observed during the study, and the two most common species were Jefferson salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) and redback salamanders (Plethodon tinereus). All eight species were noted on the ROW, but only Jefferson and redback salamanders occurred in the adjacent forest. The number of species ranged from six species in the mowing plus herbicide unit to three each in the stem—foliage spray and foliage spray units. All species were found in the wire zones compared to only five species in the border zones. The ROW contained a greater diversity of amphibian and reptile species than the adjacent forest. Because forest-management practices can have negative impacts on populations of amphibians and reptiles, this study provides valuable information on forest-management practices required for the conservation of amphibians and reptiles.
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Brown, Geoff W., Andrew F. Bennett, and Joanne M. Potts. "Regional faunal decline - reptile occurrence in fragmented rural landscapes of south-eastern Australia." Wildlife Research 35, no. 1 (2008): 8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr07010.
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Many species of reptiles are sedentary and depend on ground-layer habitats, suggesting that they may be particularly vulnerable to landscape changes that result in isolation or degradation of native vegetation. We investigated patterns of reptile distribution and abundance in remnant woodland across the Victorian Riverina, south-eastern Australia, a bioregion highly modified (>90%) by clearing for agriculture. Reptiles were intensively surveyed by pitfall trapping and censuses at 60 sites, stratified to sample small (<30 ha) and large (>30 ha) remnants, and linear strips of roadside and streamside vegetation, across the regional environmental gradient. The recorded assemblage of 21 species was characterised by low abundance and patchy distribution of species. Reptiles were not recorded by either survey technique at 22% of sites and at a further 10% only a single individual was detected. More than half (53%) of all records were of two widespread, generalist skink species. Multivariate models showed that the distribution of reptiles is influenced by factors operating at several levels. The environmental gradient exerts a strong influence, with increasing species richness and numbers of individuals from east (moister, higher elevation) to west (drier, lower elevation). Differences existed between types of remnants, with roadside vegetation standing out as important; this probably reflects greater structural heterogeneity of ground and shrub strata than in remnants subject to grazing by stock. Although comparative historical data are lacking, we argue that there has been a region-wide decline in the status of reptiles in the Victorian Riverina involving: (1) overall population decline commensurate with loss of >90% of native vegetation; (2) disproportionate decline of grassy dry woodlands and their fauna (cf. floodplains); and (3) changes to populations and assemblages in surviving remnants due to effects of land-use on reptile habitats. Many species now occur as disjunct populations, vulnerable to changing land-use. The status of reptiles in rural Australia warrants greater attention than has been given to date. Effective conservation of this component of the biota requires better understanding of the population dynamics, habitat use and dispersal capacity of species; and a commitment to landscape restoration coupled with effective ecological monitoring.
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A. How, R., and J. Dell. "Ground vertebrate fauna of Perth's vegetation remnants: impact of 170 years of urbanization." Pacific Conservation Biology 6, no. 3 (2000): 198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc000198.
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Ground vertebrates were surveyed on 34 vegetation remnants on the Swan Coastal Plain within the Perth metropolitan area. The remnants ranged from one hectare to nearly 340 ha and were sampled for at least 50 days during the year using pitfall traps. Six remnants were sampled in two or more successive years. Seven native, non-volant mammal, six introduced mammal, 11 amphibian and 43 reptile species were recorded. Native mammals are the most disadvantaged vertebrates in urban remnants with few species surviving the effects of long-term fragmentation. The herpetofauna is less affected, although snakes are generally rare. Marked annual variation occurred in lizard assemblages recorded on remnants sampled over consecutive years. On average, these remnants had a similarity in species composition of only 77% between years. Small remnants are important for conservation of reptile assemblages and there is a strong correlation between remnant area and species number for all reptile groups, except skinks. Remnants as small as one hectare retain viable populations of many reptiles, but need active management to exclude fire and predation. Regional biogeographic patterns are apparent in reptiles. Subregional patterns on the Swan Coastal Plain are associated with different soil types and the Swan River also creates a barrier across landforms. The diversity of reptile assemblages and variation in species trophic patterns indicate that many elements of the original food chain continue to operate in these urban environments.
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De Castro-Expósito, Arancha, Enrique García-Muñoz, and Francisco Guerrero. "Reptile diversity in a Mediterranean wetlands landscape (Alto Guadalquivir region, southeastern Spain): are they affected by human impacts?" Acta Herpetologica 16, no. 1 (May 5, 2021): 27–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.36253/a_h-9970.
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This study was carried out to evaluate the diversity in reptile communities in wetland landscapes located in the Mediterranean region. For this, the status of the reptile populations linked to different Mediterranean wetlands in relation to the different types of land use established in the nearby drainage basins (500 m around the wetlands perimeter) was determined. The different types of land use were determined together with the presence/absence, abundance and size class of the different reptile species. The results showed that areas with high anthropic pressure had a lower diversity of species, as well as a less balanced community structure, that could put at risk the effective recruitment and hence the maintenance of the reptile populations in these areas. The reasons behind the decline in the reptile community are similar to those put forward for explaining the decline in amphibians in the same area.
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Viana, Lúcio André, Gisele Regina Winck, Marlon Almeida-Santos, Felipe Bottona da Silva Telles, Gilberto Salles Gazêta, and Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha. "New host records for Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) from Grussaí restinga, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil." Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária 21, no. 3 (September 2012): 319–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612012000300028.
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Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick usually associated with reptiles and amphibians. However, relatively few studies on occurrences of ticks in wild reptile populations in Brazil have been produced. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of ticks associated with reptile species in the Grussaí restinga, in the municipality of São João da Barra, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Between December 2010 and January 2011, 131 individuals belonging to nine species of reptiles of the order Squamata were sampled: the lizards Tropidurus torquatus (n = 51), Hemidactylus mabouia (n = 25), Mabuya agilis (n = 30), Mabuya macrorhyncha (n = 6), Cnemidophorus littoralis (n = 5) and Ameiva ameiva (n = 10); and the snakes Philodryas olfersii (n = 2), Oxyrhopus rhombifer (n = 1) and Micrurus corallinus (n = 1). The only tick species found to be associated with any of the reptiles sampled was A. rotundatum. One adult female was detected on one individual of the lizard A. ameiva, one nymph on one individual of the lizard T. torquatus and four nymphs on one individual of the snake P. olfersii. This study is the first record of parasitism of A. rotundatum involving the reptiles T. torquatus and P. olfersii as hosts. Our results suggest that in the Grussaí restinga habitat, A. rotundatum may use different species of reptiles to complete its life cycle.
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Cunningham, Heather R., Charles A. Davis, Christopher W. Swarth, and Glenn D. Therres. "The Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas: A Volunteer-Based Distributional Survey." International Journal of Zoology 2012 (2012): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/348653.
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Declines of amphibian and reptile populations are well documented. Yet a lack of understanding of their distribution may hinder conservation planning for these species. The Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas project (MARA) was launched in 2010. This five-year, citizen science project will document the distribution of the 93 amphibian and reptile species in Maryland. During the 2010 and 2011 field seasons, 488 registered MARA volunteers collected 13,919 occurrence records that document 85 of Maryland's amphibian and reptile species, including 19 frog, 20 salamander, five lizard, 25 snake, and 16 turtle species. Thirteen of these species are of conservation concern in Maryland. The MARA will establish a baseline by which future changes in the distribution of populations of native herpetofauna can be assessed as well as provide information for immediate management actions for rare and threatened species. As a citizen science project it has the added benefit of educating citizens about native amphibian and reptile diversity and its ecological benefits—an important step in creating an informed society that actively participates in the long-term conservation of Maryland's nature heritage.
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Yahner, Richard, William Bramble, and W. Richard Byrnes. "Effect of Vegetation Maintenance of an Electric Transmission Right-Of-Way on Reptile and Amphibian Populations." Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 27, no. 1 (January 1, 2001): 24–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2001.004.
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A 2-year study of reptile and amphibian populations was conducted on a 230-kV transmission line right-of-way (ROW) of GPU Energy in the Allegheny Mountain Physiographic Province, Centre County, Pennsylvania, U.S., from June through October 1998 and March through October 1999. The objective was to compare the diversity and relative abundance of reptiles and amphibians between the ROW versus the adjacent forest, among five treatment units on the ROW, and between wire and borders zones on treatments on the ROW. Nine species were recorded during the study, with the three most common species being redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), northern redbelly snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata), and northern ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii). All nine species occurred on the ROW, but only redback salamanders and Jefferson salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) were found in the adjacent forest. The diversity and relative abundance ranged from six species in the stem-foliage unit to three species in the handcutting unit. Eight and six species, respectively, were noted in the wire and border zones of the ROW. However, 81% of the observations in wire zones were those of snakes, whereas 85% of the observations in border zones were salamanders. The ROW contained a much more diverse community of reptiles and amphibians than the adjacent forest. Forest-management practices can have negative impacts on populations of amphibians and reptiles. Thus, this study provides important information on forest-management practices required for the conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
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Nania, Dario, Maria Lumbierres, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Mattia Falaschi, Michela Pacifici, and Carlo Rondinini. "Maps of area of habitat for Italian amphibians and reptiles." Nature Conservation 49 (July 15, 2022): 117–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.49.82931.
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Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species’ geographic distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or endangered biodiversity. Italy is one of the European countries with the highest levels of herpetological diversity and endemism and is home to several threatened species of amphibians and reptiles. Information on the distribution of species’ habitats can help identify sites where the species is most likely to thrive, as viable populations depend on it. Area of Habitat (AOH) maps reveal the distribution of the habitat available to the species within their geographic range. We produced high resolution, freely accessible global area of habitat maps for 60 species of reptiles and amphibians distributed in Italy, which represent 60% of all Italian amphibian and reptile species. We validated a total of 44 AOH maps through a presence-only based evaluation method, with 86% of these maps showing a performance better than expected by chance. AOH maps can be used as a reference for conservation planning, as well as to investigate macroecological patterns of Italian herpetofauna. Furthermore, AOH maps can help monitoring habitat loss, which is known to be a major threat to many reptile and amphibian species in Europe.
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Turak, Eren, Alex Bush, Jocelyn Dela-Cruz, and Megan Powell. "Freshwater Reptile Persistence and Conservation in Cities: Insights from Species Occurrence Records." Water 12, no. 3 (February 28, 2020): 651. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12030651.
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Reptiles are rarely included in urban freshwater biodiversity monitoring and conservation. We explored the global persistence of freshwater dependent turtles, lizards, crocodilians and snakes in cities with a population greater than 100,000 using species occurrence data in online databases from a five-year period (2013–2018). We then used ecological niche models to help identify the locations of suitable habitats for three freshwater reptile species in Sydney, Australia. Our Global analysis showed that sightings of a majority of known species of crocodilians and freshwater turtles were recorded in databases within this 5-year period in contrast to about one in three freshwater lizard species and one in ten freshwater snake species and that freshwater reptiles were observed within 50 km of the center of 40% of the 3525 cities. While global databases hold substantial recent species occurrence records for some regions, they contain very little data for large parts of the world. Modelling showed that potential suitable habitat for the three freshwater species in Sydney was distributed across areas with different levels of urban development. The persistence of populations of freshwater reptiles in and around a large proportion of the world’s cities show that this group can play an important role in urban biodiversity conservation.
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Blahove, Maria Raisa, and James Richard Carter. "Flavivirus Persistence in Wildlife Populations." Viruses 13, no. 10 (October 18, 2021): 2099. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v13102099.
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A substantial number of humans are at risk for infection by vector-borne flaviviruses, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. These viruses also infect wildlife at a considerable rate, persistently cycling between ticks/mosquitoes and small mammals and reptiles and non-human primates and humans. Substantially increasing evidence of viral persistence in wildlife continues to be reported. In addition to in humans, viral persistence has been shown to establish in mammalian, reptile, arachnid, and mosquito systems, as well as insect cell lines. Although a considerable amount of research has centered on the potential roles of defective virus particles, autophagy and/or apoptosis-induced evasion of the immune response, and the precise mechanism of these features in flavivirus persistence have yet to be elucidated. In this review, we present findings that aid in understanding how vector-borne flavivirus persistence is established in wildlife. Research studies to be discussed include determining the critical roles universal flavivirus non-structural proteins played in flaviviral persistence, the advancement of animal models of viral persistence, and studying host factors that allow vector-borne flavivirus replication without destructive effects on infected cells. These findings underscore the viral–host relationships in wildlife animals and could be used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the establishment of viral persistence in these animals.
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Freitas, LM, JFFS Paranaíba, APS Peréz, MRF Machado, and FC Lima. "Toxicity of pesticides in lizards." Human & Experimental Toxicology 39, no. 5 (January 20, 2020): 596–604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327119899980.
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Many threats exist to reptile populations, environmental pollutants being one of them. Lizards and other reptiles are usually not taken into consideration in environmental risk assessments, with the use of surrogate species for their estimates. Unfortunately, not all pesticides have the same effects in the reptile species and on these surrogates, birds and mammals, some being more toxic in lizards. This difference brings the need to evaluate their toxicity in lizards to safeguard its protection. Studies in the last decades involving contaminants’ toxicity in lizard species have increased, thus we proposed to gather these information in this comprehensive review. Through searches in databases about the toxicity of pesticides in lizards, 16 scientific articles were found. Most studies investigated locomotor performance, histopathology, oxidative stress, neurotoxicology, and genetic damage from diverse pesticides with different modes of action. Progress has been made to acquire data on lizard ecotoxicology and more research is needed to cover more variables, such as studies in the embryologic stage and different pesticides.
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Goldingay, R., G. Daly, and F. Lemckert. "Assessing the Impacts of Logging on Reptiles and Frogs in the Montane Forests of Southern New South Wales." Wildlife Research 23, no. 4 (1996): 495. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9960495.
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This study describes an assessment of the medium-term effects of selection logging on the reptiles and frogs in the montane forests near Queanbeyan, New South Wales. A total of 15 reptile and two frog species was detected across 20 fixed-area plots that were selected according to broad forest type and logging history. Reptile species richness was not significantly different among the different habitat treatments. Total reptile abundance was significantly higher on logged plots, but was not influenced by forest moisture type. Individual analyses for five lizard species (accounting for 84% of all data) showed that several species (Eulamprus tympanum, E. heatwolei and Pseudemoia spenceri) had significantly greater abundances on the logged plots than on the unlogged plots, while two species (Nannoscincus maccoyi and Niveoscincus coventryi) did not differ significantly in their abundances across treatments. Thus, none of these species (which included arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial species) appeared to be adversely affected by past logging practices. Insufficient data on frogs were obtained for analysis. An additional 26 species (13 reptile and 13 frog species) were recorded during a regional survey involving 57 sites. Only two frog species were detected at more than 10 sites, illustrating the difficulty in obtaining data to determine whether logging has any impact on frog populations. Snakes are similarly difficult to assess: 13 snakes from six species were detected in this study. It is concluded that (i) the most abundant reptile species were not adversely affected by past logging, and (ii) many species of herpetofauna were patchy in their distribution across the study area, preventing resolution of the influence of habitat type or disturbance. The difficulty in collecting quantitative data on frogs and snakes confirms the importance of surveys that target endangered frog and snake species so that protective buffer zones can be delineated. Further research is required on these groups to assess the impact of forest management practices.
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GARCÍA-CARDENETE, LUÍS, JUAN M. PLEGUEZUELOS, JOSÉ C. BRITO, FRANCISCO JIMÉNEZ-CAZALLA, MARÍA T. PÉREZ-GARCÍA, and XAVIER SANTOS. "Water cisterns as death traps for amphibians and reptiles in arid environments." Environmental Conservation 41, no. 4 (March 24, 2014): 341–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s037689291400006x.
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SUMMARYArid regions are increasingly being anthropogenically altered. In the north-western Sahara, a growing road network facilitates the use of habitats adjacent to roads. In regions where livestock is the traditional and main economic resource, local people are currently building numerous water cisterns for watering livestock, leading to an increase in the extent of pasturing of domestic livestock. Cisterns may attract desert vertebrates and act as death traps for species with already sparse populations in these arid areas. This paper is the first to examine the impact of cisterns as lethal traps for amphibians and reptiles in the Sahara, using a survey of 823 cisterns in south-western Morocco to identify and quantify species affected. Four amphibians and 35 reptiles were trapped in cisterns, some of which were listed as threatened. At least 459 017 individual amphibians and reptiles were trapped annually within the study area. The low productivity and low population densities of terrestrial vertebrates in this arid region suggest cisterns have a substantial impact upon amphibian and reptile species. As cistern construction is increasing, management actions are required to mitigate this impact on the herpetological community.
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Rose, Karrie, Jessica Agius, Jane Hall, Paul Thompson, John-Sebastian Eden, Mukesh Srivastava, Brendan Tiernan, Cheryl Jenkins, and David Phalen. "Emergent multisystemic Enterococcus infection threatens endangered Christmas Island reptile populations." PLOS ONE 12, no. 7 (July 20, 2017): e0181240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181240.
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Michelangeli, Marcus, David G. Chapple, Celine T. Goulet, Michael G. Bertram, and Bob B. M. Wong. "Behavioral syndromes vary among geographically distinct populations in a reptile." Behavioral Ecology 30, no. 2 (December 19, 2018): 393–401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary178.
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Arnold, E. N. "Recently extinct reptile populations from Mauritius and Réunion, Indian Ocean." Journal of Zoology 191, no. 1 (August 20, 2009): 33–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1980.tb01447.x.
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Nugraha, Taofik Herdian, Tun Susdiyanti, and Luluk Setyaningsih. "KEANEKARAGAMAN SATWA LIAR PADA TEGAKAN JATI UNGGUL NUSANTARA (JUN) UMUR 5 TAHUN DI KEBUN PERCOBAAN UNIVERSITAS NUSA BANGSA, BOGOR." Jurnal Sains Natural 2, no. 2 (November 25, 2017): 143. http://dx.doi.org/10.31938/jsn.v2i2.44.
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Diversity of Wildlife in Stands of Nusantara Superior Teak (JUN) Age 5 Years Old in Nusa Bangsa University Experimental Garden, Bogor Habitat is a place or environment where wildlife get a source of food, water and shelter in order to meet the needs of their lives including support for the breed. Its presence in of activity of human life can be an indicator of naturalness of an area. This study aimed to identify the species of wildlife and to determined population density, abundance and diversity of wildlife found at the Experimental garden of University of Nusa Bangsa. This study had been done in 2009. The research method was a combination methods abundance point method and strip transect. This method could be done for mamalia, aves and reptiles observation and was intended to obtain data of wildlife with having higher contact chance. Pathways methods for mammals observations and point method for observation of reptiles and aves. Results of previous studies identified had a total of 19 wildlife species from three classes (reptiles, aves and mammals). Wildlife populations identified in the Experiment were 891 individuals and the abundence of 89.1 individu/Ha. Wildlife Species Diversity at the Experiment classified as moderate with a score index value of 2.361. The wildlife was most commonly found were Cattle Swallow, Home Kapinis and Rice Cici. While in the 2011 study identified as many as 16 wild animals of the three classes of animals (reptiles, aves and mammals), among others Gardens Lizard, Koros Snake, Ropes Picis Snake, Mandy Gray Birds, Quail, Cattle Swallow, Kapinis, turtledoves, Perenjak, Kutilang, Bananas Cinenen, Rice Cici, Sparrow, Sparrow/Scaly, grate and Bats. Wildlife populations identified in the Experiment were 137 idividu and the abundance of 13.7 individu/Ha2. Wildlife Species Diversity at the Experiment classified as moderate with a index score of 2.35. The wildlife was most commonly found Cattle Swallow, Kutilang, garden lizards and turtledoves.Keywords : Biodiversity, wildlife, habitat, experimental gardens UNB ABSTRAK Habitat adalah suatu tempat atau lingkungan dimana satwaliar mendapatkan sumber makanan, air dan perlindungan (shelter) guna memenuhi kebutuhan untuk menunjang kehidupan mereka termasuk diantaranya untuk beranak pinak atau berkembang biak. Keberadaannya ditengah – tengah aktifitas dan kehidupan manusia dapat menjadi indicator akan kealamian suatu wilayah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi jenis satwa liar dan untuk mengetahui kepadatan populasi, kelimpahan serta keanekaragaman jenis satwaliar yang terdapat di Kebun Percobaan UNB. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian yang telah dilakukan pada tahun 2009. Metode penelitian dengan metode gabungan antara metode kelimpahan titik (point of abundance) dan transek jalur. Dengan metode ini dapat dilakukan untuk pengamatan mamalia.aves dan reptile sekaligus serta dimaksudkan untuk memperoleh data tentang satwaliar dengan peluang kontak yang lebih tinggi. Metode jalur untuk pengamatan mamalia sedangkan metode titik untuk pengamatan reptil dan aves. Hasil penelitian sebelumnya teridentifikasi sebanyak 19 satwa liar dari tiga kelas satwa (reptile, aves dan mamalia). Populasi satwa liar yang teridentifikasi di Kebun Percobaan UNB sebesar 891 individu dan jumlah kelimpahannya sebesar 89,1 individu/Ha2. Keanekaragaman Jenis Satwa Liar di Kebun Percobaan UNB tergolong sedang dengan nilai indeks sebesar 2,361. Satwa liar yang paling banyak ditemukan adalah Walet Sapi, Kapinis Rumah dan Cici Padi. Sedangkan pada penelitian 2011 teridentifikasi sebanyak 16 satwa liar dari tiga kelas satwa (reptile, aves dan mamalia) antara lain Kadal Kebun, Ular Koros, Ular Tali Picis, Burung Wiwik Kelabu, Burung Puyuh, Walet Sapi, Kapinis, Tekukur,Perenjak, Kutilang, Cinenen Pisang, Cici Padi, Burung Gereja, Burung Pipit/Bondol, Garangan, dan Kalong. Populasi satwa liar yang teridentifikasi di Kebun Percobaan UNB sebesar 137 individu dan jumlah kelimpahannya sebesar 13,7 individu/Ha2. Keanekaragaman Jenis Satwa Liar di Kebun Percobaan UNB tergolong sedang dengan nilai indeks sebesar 2,35. Satwa liar yang paling banyak ditemukan adalah Walet Sapi, Kutilang, kadal kebun dan Tekukur.Kata Kunci : Keanekaragaman, satwaliar, habitat, kebun percobaan UNB
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Hastings, Holly, James Barr, and Philip W. Bateman. "Spatial and temporal patterns of reptile roadkill in the north-west Australian tropics." Pacific Conservation Biology 25, no. 4 (2019): 370. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc18082.
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Roads present unavoidable challenges to wildlife, both in populated and in more remote regions. Both traffic infrastructure and road vehicles can have a detrimental impact on natural ecosystems and wildlife populations. This study aimed to gain a broad overview of the impacts of a stretch of road on native herpetofauna in north-western Australia. Reptile roadkill was surveyed along a 31-km stretch of the main road in Broome, Western Australia for eight months, during both the wet and dry seasons. There was a significantly higher rate of road mortality in the wet season despite a decrease in traffic intensity. Incidence of roadkill varied between reptile clades, with varanids being the mostly frequently recorded as roadkill. Carcass persistence experiments, however, highlighted a potential significant underestimation in roadkill due to an extremely high rate of carcass removal, emphasising the need to consider this variable when using roadkill as a survey method. We recommend that carcass persistence should be further investigated in order to accurately assess extent of reptile roadkill in the region, and how roads and traffic may impact at-risk species and populations.
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Adams, Clare, Luke Hoekstra, Morgan Muell, and Fredric Janzen. "A Brief Review of Non-Avian Reptile Environmental DNA (eDNA), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA Under Field Conditions." Diversity 11, no. 4 (March 29, 2019): 50. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d11040050.
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Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an increasingly used non-invasive molecular tool for detecting species presence and monitoring populations. In this article, we review the current state of non-avian reptile eDNA work in aquatic systems, and present a field experiment on detecting the presence of painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA. Thus far, turtle and snake eDNA studies have shown mixed results in detecting the presence of these animals under field conditions. However, some instances of low detection rates and non-detection occur for these non-avian reptiles, especially for squamates. We explored non-avian reptile eDNA quantification by sampling four lentic ponds with different densities (0 kg/ha, 6 kg/ha, 9 kg/ha, and 13 kg/ha) of painted turtles over three months to detect differences in eDNA using a qPCR assay amplifying the COI gene of the mtDNA genome. Only one sample of the highest-density pond amplified eDNA for a positive detection. Yet, estimates of eDNA concentration from pond eDNA were rank-order correlated with turtle density. We present the “shedding hypothesis”—the possibility that animals with hard, keratinized integument do not shed as much DNA as mucus-covered organisms—as a potential challenge for eDNA studies. Despite challenges with eDNA inhibition and availability in water samples, we remain hopeful that eDNA can be used to detect freshwater turtles in the field. We provide key recommendations for biologists wishing to use eDNA methods for detecting non-avian reptiles.
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Boyle, Maria, Lisa Schwanz, Jim Hone, and Arthur Georges. "Dispersal and climate warming determine range shift in model reptile populations." Ecological Modelling 328 (May 2016): 34–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.02.011.
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Iftime, Alexandru, and Oana Iftime. "New herpetological records from Cozia National Park and its surrounding areas (Vâlcea County, Romania)." Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 62, no. 2 (December 31, 2019): 221–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/travaux.62.e47321.
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The results of faunistic surveys upon the amphibian and reptile populations in the Cozia National Park are presented. We recorded (found) 11 amphibian species (including the hybridogenetic Pelophylax kl. esculentus) and 12 reptile species; some species (Bufotes viridis and Emys orbicularis) were found after a long lapse in scientific recording. We observe that the Cozia Massif appears to have a richer herpetofauna than that of the adjoining Narâțu and Căpățânii massifs.
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Stiles, Rochelle M., Jonathan W. Swan, Jaimie L. Klemish, and Michael J. Lannoo. "Amphibian habitat creation on postindustrial landscapes: a case study in a reclaimed coal strip-mine area." Canadian Journal of Zoology 95, no. 2 (February 2017): 67–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0163.
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Although habitat loss is a major driver of amphibian and reptile declines globally, a subset of postindustrial landscapes, reclaimed and restored, are creating habitat for these animals in the United States. In southwestern Indiana, along the southeastern edge of the Illinois Coal Basin, post-SMCRA (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977) grassland restorations are recreating prairies in a region where they occurred naturally as openings (pockets) in deciduous forest, but were destroyed by agricultural activities following Euro-American settlement. Furthermore, it is likely, given the speed of recolonization by 34 species of amphibians and reptiles (9 frog, 5 salamander, 13 snake, 5 turtle, and 2 lizard species), that the grasslands associated with railroad spur-line right-of-ways act as corridors to facilitate movement of these species into these relatively large sites. We suggest that reclaimed, restored, and properly managed landscapes can support reproducing populations of amphibians and reptiles, including species in decline across other portions of their range.
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Colosimo, Giuliano, Anna C. Jackson, Amanda Benton, Andrea Varela-Stokes, John Iverson, Charles R. Knapp, and Mark Welch. "Correlated Population Genetic Structure in a Three-Tiered Host-Parasite System: The Potential for Coevolution and Adaptive Divergence." Journal of Heredity 112, no. 7 (October 1, 2021): 590–601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esab058.
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Abstract Three subspecies of Northern Bahamian Rock Iguanas, Cyclura cychlura, are currently recognized: C. c. cychlura, restricted to Andros Island, and C. c. figginsi and C. c. inornata, native to the Exuma Island chain. Populations on Andros are genetically distinct from Exuma Island populations, yet genetic divergence among populations in the Exumas is inconsistent with the 2 currently recognized subspecies from those islands. The potential consequences of this discrepancy might include the recognition of a single subspecies throughout the Exumas rather than 2. That inference also ignores evidence that populations of C. cychlura are potentially adaptively divergent. We compared patterns of population relatedness in a three-tiered host-parasite system: C. cychlura iguanas, their ticks (genus Amblyomma, preferentially parasitizing these reptiles), and Rickettsia spp. endosymbionts (within tick ectoparasites). Our results indicate that while C. c. cychlura on Andros is consistently supported as a separate clade, patterns of relatedness among populations of C. c. figginsi and C. c. inornata within the Exuma Island chain are more complex. The distribution of the hosts, different tick species, and Rickettsia spp., supports the evolutionary independence of C. c. inornata. Further, these patterns are also consistent with two independent evolutionarily significant units within C. c. figginsi. Our findings suggest coevolutionary relationships between the reptile hosts, their ectoparasites, and rickettsial organisms, suggesting local adaptation. This work also speaks to the limitations of using neutral molecular markers from a single focal taxon as the sole currency for recognizing evolutionary novelty in populations of endangered species.
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Książczyk, Marta, Bartłomiej Dudek, Maciej Kuczkowski, Robert O’Hara, Kamila Korzekwa, Anna Wzorek, Agnieszka Korzeniowska-Kowal, et al. "The Phylogenetic Structure of Reptile, Avian and Uropathogenic Escherichia coli with Particular Reference to Extraintestinal Pathotypes." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 3 (January 26, 2021): 1192. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031192.
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The impact of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) on the microbiomic and pathogenic phenomena occurring in humans and other warm-blooded animals is relatively well-recognized. At the same time, there are scant data concerning the role of E. coli strains in the health and disease of cold-blooded animals. It is presently known that reptiles are common asymptomatic carriers of another human pathogen, Salmonella, which, when transferred to humans, may cause a disease referred to as reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS). We therefore hypothesized that reptiles may also be carriers of specific E. coli strains (reptilian Escherichia coli, RepEC) which may differ in their genetic composition from the human uropathogenic strain (UPEC) and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Therefore, we isolated RepECs (n = 24) from reptile feces and compared isolated strains’ pathogenic potentials and phylogenic relations with the aforementioned UPEC (n = 24) and APEC (n = 24) strains. To this end, we conducted an array of molecular analyses, including determination of the phylogenetic groups of E. coli, virulence genotyping, Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis-Restriction Analysis (RA-PFGE) and genetic population structure analysis using Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). The majority of the tested RepEC strains belonged to nonpathogenic phylogroups, with an important exception of one strain, which belonged to the pathogenic group B2, typical of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. This strain was part of the globally disseminated ST131 lineage. Unlike RepEC strains and in line with previous studies, a high percentage of UPEC strains belonged to the phylogroup B2, and the percentage distribution of phylogroups among the tested APEC strains was relatively homogenous, with most coming from the following nonpathogenic groups: C, A and B1. The RA-PFGE displayed a high genetic diversity among all the tested E. coli groups. In the case of RepEC strains, the frequency of occurrence of virulence genes (VGs) was lower than in the UPEC and APEC strains. The presented study is one of the first attempting to compare the phylogenetic structures of E. coli populations isolated from three groups of vertebrates: reptiles, birds and mammals (humans).
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Redder, Alan, Wayne Hubert, Stanley Anderson, and David Duvall. "Fish, Amphibian, and Reptile Inventory for the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area." UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports 9 (January 1, 1985): 18–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.13001/uwnpsrc.1985.2469.
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This study was designed to inventory fish, amphibian, and reptile populations inhabiting the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area using standard sampling techniques and field observations in order to determine species composition, distribution, relative abundance, and habitat associations.
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Kwok, Hang Fai, Tianbao Chen, Craig Ivanyi, and Chris Shaw. "DNA in Amphibian and Reptile Venom Permits Access to Genomes without Specimen Sacrifice." Genomics Insights 1 (January 2008): GEI.S1039. http://dx.doi.org/10.4137/gei.s1039.
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Amphibian defensive skin secretions and reptile venoms are rich sources of bioactive peptides with potential pharmacological/pharmaceutical applications. As amphibian and reptile populations are in rapid global decline, our research group has been developing analytical methods that permit generation of robust molecular data from non-invasive skin secretion samples and venom samples. While previously we have demonstrated that parallel proteome and venom gland transcriptome analyses can be performed on such samples, here we report the presence of DNA that facilitates the more widely-used applications of gene sequencing, such as molecular phylogenetics, in a non-invasive manner that circumvents specimen sacrifice. From this “surrogate” tissue, we acquired partial 12S and 16S rRNA gene sequences that are presented for illustration purposes. Thus from a single sample of amphibian skin secretion and reptile venom, robust and complementary proteome, transcriptome and genome data can be generated for applications in diverse scientific disciplines.
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Milto, K. D. "Estimation of amphibian and reptile diversity in the Kurghalsky Wildlife Sanctuary." Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 324, no. 2 (June 25, 2020): 273–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2020.324.2.273.
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Kurghalsky Wildlife Sanctuary occupies an extreme western position in the Leningrad Region (with the main city of St. Petersburg). The fauna of the Kurghalsky Wildlife Sanctuary is quite diverse and includes 6 species of amphibians and 5 species of reptiles. The core of herpetofauna is formed by several species (Lissotriton vulgaris, Bufo bufo, Rana arvalis, Rana temporaria, Anguis fragilis, Zootoca vivipara, Vipera berus) widely distributed in the boreal zone of Eurasia. It is enriched by a few subboreal species (Pelobates fuscus, Pelophylax ridibundus, Lacerta agilis, Natrix natrix), regionally rare in the taiga zone. The highest diversity of amphibians and reptiles (8 species) was registered in the boreal and intrazonal groups of plant communities such as the forb-grassy meadows, greenmoss and light pine heath forests. The greatest similarity of herpetofaunas is characteristic for communities of spruce and small-leaved forests (93%), small-leaved forests and meadows (93%), broad-leaved forests and bogs (89%), pine and spruce forests (88%) and small-leaved forests and bogs (83%). Differences in the species composition of the local herpetofaunas are associated with a tendency to depletion of the number of species in boreal communities: from coniferous and mixed forests to bogs, reed communities and beaches. The general depletion of herpetofauna of the north is associated primarily with the loss of subboreal elements. The diversity and relatively high density of amphibian and reptile populations indicate the good preservation of forest and coastal ecosystems.
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Christie, Kimberley, Michael D. Craig, Vicki L. Stokes, and Richard J. Hobbs. "Movement patterns by Egernia napoleonis following reintroduction into restored jarrah forest." Wildlife Research 38, no. 6 (2011): 475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr11063.
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Context The value of animal reintroduction as a conservation tool is debated. This is largely because the limited quantity of research that has been conducted on animal reintroductions has shown varying degrees of success in establishing new populations. The reasons why some reintroductions are successful, whereas others are not, are often not clear. Aims The present research aims to determine whether reptile reintroduction into restored mine pits is a potential management technique for managing and conserving reptile populations within a mined landscape. Methods Twelve Napoleon’s skinks were trapped then fitted with 0.9-g transmitters. Half were reintroduced into 5-year-old restored mine pits and the other half into unmined forest. Bodyweights, movement patterns and macro-habitat selection were recorded weekly during November and then monthly until March. Key results Skinks reintroduced into restored sites quickly moved into unmined forest. Both groups of skinks moved large distances, but those reintroduced into restored sites travelled further than did control skinks and took longer to reduce their distances travelled, showing possible stress as a result of release into unsuitable habitat. Eventually, almost all skinks found suitable habitat in unmined forest and settled into these areas while continuing to gain weight. Conclusions Reintroduction was an ineffective technique for facilitating colonisation of restored minesites by Napoleon’s skink. Lack of suitable micro-habitats within restoration areas, such as ground logs and coarse, woody debris piles, is likely limiting the use of these areas by Napoleon’s skinks and is likely to be the cause of their failure to remain or settle in restored sites after reintroduction. Implications Determining the habitat requirements of skinks and replicating this in restoration sites would seem the more appropriate management option than is reintroduction, and this may be the case for other reptiles and habitat specialists.
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Whittaker, Alexandra L., Brianna Golder-Dewar, Jordyn L. Triggs, Sally L. Sherwen, and David J. McLelland. "Identification of Animal-Based Welfare Indicators in Captive Reptiles: A Delphi Consultation Survey." Animals 11, no. 7 (July 5, 2021): 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11072010.
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There is an increasing focus on evidence-based welfare assessment by animal care staff in zoos, along with a strong interest in animal welfare by the zoo-visiting public, to the extent that this can influence their choice of institutions to visit. Regulatory oversight of animal welfare standards continues to strengthen across many jurisdictions. Zoos are increasingly formalizing their practices with the development and refinement of evidence-based welfare assessment tools. There has been a drive for welfare assessment tools to comprise both resource-based and animal-based measures. However, animal-based indicators are not always well characterized, in terms of their nature and whether they infer a positive or negative affective state. This is especially so for reptiles, which are often considered behaviorally inexpressive and are under-researched. In this study, a Delphi consultation approach was used to gather expert opinion on the suitability of potential animal-based indicators of welfare for inclusion in a welfare assessment tool across four families of reptiles: Agamidae, Chelidae, Pythonidae, and Testudinidae. Two rounds of online surveys were conducted eliciting responses from a global group of professionals who work with reptiles. In the first survey, respondents were provided with an author-derived list of potential animal-based indicators for consideration of their validity and practicality as welfare indicators. The indicators were refined for the second survey including only those indicators that were considered valid or practical on the first survey (≥4 on a 5-point Likert scale), and that achieved ≥70% consensus amongst experts. In the second survey, respondents were asked to re-evaluate the reliability and practicality of the indicators and to rank them on these facets. Eight to ten assessment indicators for each family of reptiles were identified from Survey 2. These indicators were often health related, for example, presence of oculo-nasal discharge or wounds. However, some true behavioral indicators were identified, such as showing species-specific interest and alertness. These indicators should now be incorporated into taxon-tailored welfare assessment tools for trial and validation in captive reptile populations. This study provides a next step towards developing reptile-specific animal welfare assessment tools for these often-overlooked animals.
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Read, John, and Zoë Bowen. "Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia." Wildlife Research 28, no. 2 (2001): 195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr99065.
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Average cat and fox densities at Roxby Downs, in northern South Australia, of 0.8 and 0.6 km–2 respectively, determined through spotlight counts over a 10-year period, probably considerably underestimate true densities. Peak rabbit populations coincided with high fox numbers, which probably suppressed cat densities. Cat abundance peaked when fox numbers were low but rabbit numbers were relatively high. When abundant, rabbits were the principal prey of both cats and foxes. Declines in rabbits numbers coincided with dramatic declines in fox numbers. By contrast, declines in cat populations were less marked, presumably because they could more effectively switch to hunting a wide range of native vertebrates. Sand-dwelling lizards, house mice and common small passerines were the most abundant non-rabbit, vertebrate prey taken by cats. We estimate that annual cat predation accounted for approximately 700 reptiles, 150 birds and 50 native mammals per square kilometre, whereas foxes consumed on average 290 reptiles per square kilometre and few native mammals and birds in the Roxby Downs region each year. Male cats and foxes were heavier than females. Feral cats typically weighed less than 4.0 kg, and cats weighing less than 2.5 kg typically preyed on more native vertebrates than did larger cats. Male and female cats were both typically tabby coloured, but a higher proportion of males were ginger in colour. Peak cat breeding coincided with rabbit and bird breeding and increased reptile activity during spring.
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Paton, Hanna D., Allison Mool, Christen Fairow, Whitney Hurst, Rachel Bowden, and Laura Vogel. "Identifying B cells in hatchling and adult Trachemys scripta, red-eared slider turtles." Journal of Immunology 208, no. 1_Supplement (May 1, 2022): 124.09. http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.208.supp.124.09.
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Abstract Evidence suggests there are important differences between reptile and mammalian immune strategies, yet little is known about humoral immune responses in reptilian vertebrates. Our laboratory is interested in reptile B cell development and function and our undergraduate research project involved B cell detection using flow cytometry in spleens of hatchling and adult turtles. We made use of a previously developed monoclonal antibody (HL673) that recognizes turtle light chain protein. The murine HL673 mAb was purified using a protein A affinity column and reactivity was tested by ELISA. Some of the purified antibody was biotinylated and incubated with blood and spleen samples from adult and hatchlings. Bound antibodies were detected and B cell populations identified using flow cytometry. We were able to identify B cell containing populations based on scatter and specific staining. Our results showed detection of turtle B cells using the labeled mAb in both adults and 6 week old hatchlings. Future studies will use this reagent to further investigate the distribution and function of B cells. This work was supported by NSF 1725199 and NIH 1R15AI140118 – 01.
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Clulow, John, and Simon Clulow. "Cryopreservation and other assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of threatened amphibians and reptiles: bringing the ARTs up to speed." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28, no. 8 (2016): 1116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd15466.
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Amphibians and reptiles are experiencing serious declines, with the number of threatened species and extinctions growing rapidly as the modern biodiversity crisis unfolds. For amphibians, the panzootic of chytridiomycosis is a major driver. For reptiles, habitat loss and harvesting from the wild are key threats. Cryopreservation and other assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) could play a role in slowing the loss of amphibian and reptile biodiversity and managing threatened populations through genome storage and the production of live animals from stored material. These vertebrate classes are at different stages of development in cryopreservation and other ARTs, and each class faces different technical challenges arising from the separate evolutionary end-points of their reproductive biology. For amphibians, the generation of live offspring from cryopreserved spermatozoa has been achieved, but the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos remains elusive. With reptiles, spermatozoa have been cryopreserved in a few species, but no offspring from cryopreserved spermatozoa have been reported, and the generation of live young from AI has only occurred in a small number of species. Cryopreservation and ARTs are more developed and advanced for amphibians than reptiles. Future work on both groups needs to concentrate on achieving proof of concept examples that demonstrate the use of genome storage and ARTs in successfully recovering threatened species to increase awareness and support for this approach to conservation.
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Cerdá-Ardura, Adrián. "NEW VISUAL RECORDS OF PLANTS CONSUMED BY 10 LIZARD SPECIES ON ISLANDS OF THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INSULAR ECOLOGY AND TROPHIC WEBS." Revista Latinoamericana de Herpetología 4, no. 2 (November 30, 2021): 23–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2021.02.199.
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II present an unpublished list of 59 plant species of 19 families that constitute a source of food for the insular reptiles Ctenosaura conspicuosa, C. hemilopha, Sauromalus varius, S. hispidus, S. slevini, S. klauberi, S. ater, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, D. catalinensis, and Petrosaurus thalassinus on 15 islands of the Gulf of California based on 711 direct observations of feeding events. Two reptile species climb to the tops of cardon cacti branches to purposely eat flowers and fruits and accidentally dislodge plant parts that partially subsidize ground organisms; the rest forage mainly on the ground, but do show a strong evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral tendency to climb on low trees and bushes to eat leaves and flowers. The reptiles’ food habits influence other populations, species, trophic levels, and even the whole insular communities, both up (to predators), down (to producers and primary consumers) and horizontally (to competitors). Insular herbivorous and omnivorous lizards, as primary and secondary consumers, and even as predators, are in the middle of complex food webs. In these interactions, the cardon cactus provides vast amounts of biomass and energy to the whole insular communities.
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Broennimann, Olivier, Sylvain Ursenbacher, Andreas Meyer, Philippe Golay, Jean-Claude Monney, Hans Schmocker, Antoine Guisan, and Sylvain Dubey. "Influence of climate on the presence of colour polymorphism in two montane reptile species." Biology Letters 10, no. 11 (November 2014): 20140638. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0638.
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The coloration of ectotherms plays an important role in thermoregulation processes. Dark individuals should heat up faster and be able to reach a higher body temperature than light individuals and should therefore have benefits in cool areas. In central Europe, montane local populations of adder ( Vipera berus ) and asp viper ( Vipera aspis ) exhibit a varying proportion of melanistic individuals. We tested whether the presence of melanistic V. aspis and V. berus could be explained by climatic conditions. We measured the climatic niche position and breadth of monomorphic (including strictly patterned individuals) and polymorphic local populations, calculated their niche overlap and tested for niche equivalency and similarity. In accordance with expectations, niche overlap between polymorphic local populations of both species is high, and even higher than that of polymorphic versus monomorphic montane local populations of V. aspis , suggesting a predominant role of melanism in determining the niche of ectothermic vertebrates. However, unexpectedly, the niche of polymorphic local populations of both species is narrower than that of monomorphic ones, indicating that colour polymorphism does not always enable the exploitation of a greater variability of resources, at least at the intraspecific level. Overall, our results suggest that melanism might be present only when the thermoregulatory benefit is higher than the cost of predation.
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D'Cruze, Neil, Lauren A. Harrington, Délagnon Assou, Jennah Green, David W. Macdonald, Delphine Ronfot, Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto, and Mark Auliya. "Betting the farm: A review of Ball Python and other reptile trade from Togo, West Africa." Nature Conservation 40 (July 1, 2020): 65–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.40.48046.
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Our review of the CITES trade database confirmed that the ball python is the most exported species by Togo; with 1,657,814 live individuals – comprising 60% of all live reptiles – reported by importing countries since 1978 (almost 55,000 annually since 1992). In total, 99% of the ball pythons legally exported from Togo under CITES were intended for commercial use, presumably as exotic pets. Since the turn of the century, wild-sourced snakes exported from Togo have been largely replaced with ranched snakes, to the extent that in the last 10 years 95% of these live exports were recorded using CITES source code “R” with the majority destined for the USA. We found discrepancies in the CITES trade database that suggest ball python exports were consistently underestimated by Togo and that both ranched and wild-sourced ball python annual quotas have been exceeded on multiple occasions including as recently as 2017. Furthermore, our field visits to seven of these “python farms” revealed that they are also involved in the commercial trade in at least 46 other reptile species, including eight that are already involved in formal CITES trade reviews due to concerns regarding their sustainability and legality. Ranching operations in West Africa were once thought to provide a degree of protection for the ball python; however, in light of recent research, there is growing concern that ranching may not confer any significant net conservation benefits. Further scrutiny and research are required to ensure the long-term survival of wild ball python and other reptile species populations in Togo.
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Gatto, Christopher R., and Richard D. Reina. "A review of the effects of incubation conditions on hatchling phenotypes in non-squamate reptiles." Journal of Comparative Physiology B 192, no. 2 (February 10, 2022): 207–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00360-021-01415-4.
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AbstractDeveloping embryos of oviparous reptiles show substantial plasticity in their responses to environmental conditions during incubation, which can include altered sex ratios, morphology, locomotor performance and hatching success. While recent research and reviews have focused on temperature during incubation, emerging evidence suggests other environmental variables are also important in determining hatchling phenotypes. Understanding how the external environment influences development is important for species management and requires identifying how environmental variables exert their effects individually, and how they interact to affect developing embryos. To address this knowledge gap, we review the literature on phenotypic responses in oviparous non-squamate (i.e., turtles, crocodilians and tuataras) reptile hatchlings to temperature, moisture, oxygen concentration and salinity. We examine how these variables influence one another and consider how changes in each variable alters incubation conditions and thus, hatchling phenotypes. We explore how incubation conditions drive variation in hatchling phenotypes and influence adult populations. Finally, we highlight knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions.
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Gould, William, and Robert Moore. "Baseline Inventories of Fish, Reptile, Mammal, Amphibian and Avian Species of the Knife River Indian Villages N.R.S." UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports 10 (January 1, 1986): 159–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.13001/uwnpsrc.1986.2581.
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The ongoing research has the following objectives. 1. Establish baseline data on vertebrate populations and their ecological distributions. 2. Identify and estimate population sizes for state and federally listed threatened or endangered species and develop management recommendations for them. 3. Identify and estimate population sizes of exotic species. The study will provide basic management information relative to threatened or endangered species and relative to maintenance of native species in the remnants of native prairie and Missouri River bottom land on the KNRI.
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Park, Chang-Deuk, Seung-Hun Son, Hyun-Su Hwang, Woo-Shin Lee, and Eun-Jae Lee. "Characteristics of Amphibian and Reptile Populations in a Coniferous Plantation and a Deciduous Forest." Journal of Korean Forest Society 103, no. 1 (March 31, 2014): 147–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.14578/jkfs.2014.103.1.147.
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Tadepalli, Mythili, Gemma Vincent, Sze Fui Hii, Simon Watharow, Stephen Graves, and John Stenos. "Molecular Evidence of Novel Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia Species in Amblyomma albolimbatum Ticks from the Shingleback Skink (Tiliqua rugosa) in Southern Western Australia." Pathogens 10, no. 1 (January 5, 2021): 35. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10010035.
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Tick-borne infectious diseases caused by obligate intracellular bacteria of the genus Rickettsia are a growing global problem to human and animal health. Surveillance of these pathogens at the wildlife interface is critical to informing public health strategies to limit their impact. In Australia, reptile-associated ticks such as Bothriocroton hydrosauri are the reservoirs for Rickettsia honei, the causative agent of Flinders Island spotted fever. In an effort to gain further insight into the potential for reptile-associated ticks to act as reservoirs for rickettsial infection, Rickettsia-specific PCR screening was performed on 64 Ambylomma albolimbatum ticks taken from shingleback skinks (Tiliqua rugosa) located in southern Western Australia. PCR screening revealed 92% positivity for rickettsial DNA. PCR amplification and sequencing of phylogenetically informative rickettsial genes (ompA, ompB, gltA, sca4, and 17kda) suggested that the single rickettsial genotype detected represented a novel rickettsial species, genetically distinct from but closely related to Rickettsia gravesii and within the rickettsia spotted fever group (SFG). On the basis of this study and previous investigations, it would appear that Rickettsia spp. are endemic to reptile-associated tick species in Australia, with geographically distinct populations of the same tick species harboring genetically distinct SFG Rickettsia species. Further molecular epidemiology studies are required to understand the relationship between these diverse Rickettsiae and their tick hosts and the risk that they may pose to human and animal health.
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Meek, Roger, and Luca Luiselli. "Living in Patchy Habitats: Substrate Selection by Basking Sympatric Lizards in Contrasted Anthropogenic Habitats in Western France." Russian Journal of Herpetology 29, no. 4 (September 2, 2022): 227–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-4-227-236.
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The influence of temperature on the physiological processes in reptiles is well known, for example growth, reproduction and muscular energy are all temperature dependent. However, there may be constraints on the ability of a reptile to harness thermal energy, particularly during cold seasons in the temperate zones. Substrate selection is a key factor in enhancing thermoregulation since it can enhance rate of heat uptake. For example, wood substrates are known to increase rates of heat gain in basking reptiles enabling earlier attainment of optimum body temperatures compared to other substrate types, which enables increased time available for other activities. In this paper we describe substrate use for basking in populations of Lacerta bilineata and Podarcis muralis in a hedgerow and a population of Podarcis muralis in a suburban garden in western France. The proportions of substrate used were compared against a null model of substrate availability. When different substrates were pooled based on material similarities both species were recorded in greater frequency on wood based materials in comparison to their availability compared to non-wood substrates. However at a finer level, in comparison to the null model of substrate availability (fallen tree branches, tree stumps, open ground etc), P. muralis showed strong substrate selection whereas L. bilineata did not depart significantly from the null model. We speculate that intra-specific aggression in L. bilineata was one possible cause of this result due to dominant individuals limiting access to prime basking sites in smaller or female lizards. Differences in communal basking between the two species supported this notion.