Abstract
Simple SummaryThe Cyprus grass snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca) is a critically endangered subspecies, endemic to the island of Cyprus. The species can be found in areas mainly related to water (lakes, dams and rivers), that are protected under the Natura 2000 network. Recently volunteers reported sightings of the species outside of its currently known distribution. To address those reports and investigate the possible presence of the species outside its distribution, a rapid survey approach was designed and implemented. The survey provided evidence on several sightings outside of the species’ distribution, identifying new localities for the first time in 25 years and highlighting the importance of sparse springs within systems of ephemeral streams for the species population. This exciting discovery brings new opportunities and responsibilities regarding the conservation of the species. We are proposing targeted conservation actions and stress the importance of expanding the research on this critically endangered subspecies, based on current findings.The critically endangered Cyprus grass snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca) has been studied for the past 25 years. Although the need for a complete survey on the distribution of its population, outside the strict boundaries of the known mountainous localities, had been stressed, such an effort has not been conducted to date. In this study, we used a rapid survey approach to investigate possible sightings of the species upstream of the known distribution in the Troodos Mountains. We are presenting evidence from 13 sightings of the species that expand the previously known distribution in Cyprus by nearly 70%. This is the first time that new localities for the critically endangered N. n. cypriaca have been reported since the rediscovery of the species in 1992 and the extensive work that followed. Almost all new localities were discovered outside of the currently known species distribution, while individuals were found, for the first time, within the Natura 2000 site of Dasos Machaira (CY2000004) with indications of healthy populations in the area. New localities were recorded within watersheds of the Pediaios and Gialias Rivers, the first sightings outside of Serrachis watershed, indicating an even broader distribution of the species in the Troodos region. The importance of sparse springs within systems of ephemeral streams is highlighted as an exceptional niche for the population in the region. We are discussing the importance of our findings for the conservation of the species and propose targeted conservation actions that will highly improve connectivity of the populations in the region. We underline the necessity of expanding the research on this critically endangered subspecies, based on current findings, so as to fully comprehend its ecology and distribution range in the region.
Highlights
With all research indicating the extremely high risk of extinction of the species in the wild, the Republic of Cyprus listed N. n. cypriaca as a ‘priority species’, the highest protection category on the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and designated four Natura 2000 sites for its protection
The reports clearly stated that (i) the species’ populations are sparse, (ii) there were at least two recent population extinctions (i.e., Xyliatos and Lagoudera populations), (iii) species distribution covers an area of nearly 100 km2 and (iv) there were no new data on the species distribution during the last reporting period (2013–2018) [18,19]
We (i) provide new evidence on the presence of the Cyprus grass snake in the Troodos Mountains outside the known distribution of the species, (ii) introduce a promising methodology to monitor the extensive linear systems in the Troodos range for identifying possible new localities of the population and (iii) propose actions to improve the conservation status of the species in conjunction with already-existing protected Natura 2000 areas
Summary
With all research indicating the extremely high risk of extinction of the species in the wild, the Republic of Cyprus listed N. n. cypriaca as a ‘priority species’, the highest protection category on the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and designated four Natura 2000 sites for its protection. The motivation for implementing this study came after two sightings of the species were provided by volunteer biologists (Athina Papatheodoulou and Tassos Shialis) through a citizen science initiative (https://cyroadkills.org, accessed on 6 October 2020) Both sightings were upstream of the species’ known distribution and were accompanied by pictures allowing confirmation by the experts of our team. We (i) provide new evidence on the presence of the Cyprus grass snake in the Troodos Mountains outside the known distribution of the species, (ii) introduce a promising methodology to monitor the extensive linear systems in the Troodos range for identifying possible new localities of the population and (iii) propose actions to improve the conservation status of the species in conjunction with already-existing protected Natura 2000 areas
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