Reptile Abundance Research Articles

Patterns and drivers of abundance and diversity of reptiles and amphibians in the protected area of Mount Chelmos

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to investigate patterns of abundance and diversity among reptiles and amphibians within the protected area of Mount Chelmos, located in Peloponnese, Greece. Our aim was to examine the drivers influencing abundance (for lizards, snakes, chelonians, anurans, urodels) and diversity (for reptiles and amphibians) within the finely-scaled study area and identify biodiversity hotspots. Land cover significantly impacted the abundance and diversity of all studied groups. Elevation had a significant impact on the abundance of snakes, chelonians, and anurans, as well as on reptile and amphibian diversity. Climate influenced all groups except chelonians. Slope significantly impacted anuran abundance and amphibian diversity. Aspect primarily influenced the abundance of lizards, anurans, and urodels, as well as reptile diversity. We have also identified abundance and diversity hotspots, emphasizing the importance of conservation and management efforts. In reptiles, abundance hotspots were predicted in the west, east, and south of the mountainous massif, whereas amphibian abundance hotspots were mapped to the west and east-southeast of the massif. Regarding diversity, the patterns were similar for both reptiles and amphibians, with hotspots emerging in the west, south, and southeast boundaries of the study area, and a few spots north of the mountainous region. Notably, many of these hotspots coincided with areas susceptible to human exploitation and vehicular transit.

Management of bushrocks in agricultural landscapes for reptile conservation

ABSTRACT Bushrocks provide critical habitat for reptiles and are a common feature in agricultural landscapes. Recent advances in soil amelioration practices have triggered a resurgence in the large-scale removal of bushrock from commodity production regions. Rock removal practices have substantial impacts on biodiversity, particularly for range-restricted and rock-dependent reptile species. We discuss findings from several observational studies and natural experiments on the ecological role of bushrocks in agricultural landscapes to inform land management and restoration practices. We found that bushrocks were critical as overwintering retreats, and reptiles preferred higher elevation areas with minimal canopy cover. We found reptiles rapidly responded to bushrock restoration, with increases in abundance and richness of reptiles in rock addition plots compared to controls. Our research highlights the importance of bushrock habitat, and the removal of such habitat may have far-reaching consequences. Conservation of reptiles in agricultural landscapes requires appropriate management and retention of bushrock. We urge for greater protection of existing bushrock habitats and consideration of rock as a restoration tool to improve conservation outcomes for reptiles in agricultural landscapes.

Unburnt areas in subtropical woodlands contain distinct reptile communities after extensive wildfire

AbstractExtensive wildfires can have profound impacts on fauna communities by altering the vegetation structure and resource availability. However, unburnt areas within a fire mosaic may be important habitat for wildlife while the surrounding area recovers after fire. To understand the importance of unburnt vegetation for reptiles, we studied community assemblages at 15 burnt and 15 unburnt sites in a subtropical woodland 12 months after a 25 000 ha wildfire. We tested the relative importance of unburnt areas and structural attributes on reptile abundance, richness, and community composition across this landscape. Unburnt areas had higher species richness and diversity, but not overall abundance. Reptile community composition differed significantly between burnt and unburnt areas. Woody debris, which was retained in unburnt areas but depleted in burnt areas, was positively associated with increased reptile diversity and richness. Our results suggest that unburnt areas are vital for maintaining reptile diversity and richness within a woodland landscape after wildfire. These findings demonstrate the importance of ensuring fire management programs retain unburnt patches of vegetation in fire‐prone landscapes to sustain reptile communities.

Using multiplatform LiDAR to identify relationships between vegetation structure and the abundance and diversity of woodland reptiles and amphibians

AbstractRemotely sensed measures of vegetation structure have been shown to explain patterns in the occurrence and diversity of several animal taxa, including birds, mammals, and invertebrates. However, very little research in this area has focused on reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna). Moreover, most remote sensing studies on animal–habitat associations have relied on airborne or satellite data that provide coverage over relatively large areas but may not have the resolution or viewing angle necessary to measure vegetation features at scales that are meaningful to herpetofauna. Here, we combined terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), unmanned aerial vehicle laser scanning (ULS), and fused (FLS) data to provide the first test of whether vegetation structural attributes can help explain variation in herpetofauna abundance, species richness, and diversity across a woodland landscape. We identified relationships between the abundance and diversity of herpetofauna and several vegetation metrics, including canopy height, skewedness, vertical complexity, volume of vegetation, and coarse woody debris. These relationships varied across species, groups, and sensors. ULS models tended to perform as well or better than TLS or FLS models based on the methods we used in this study. In open woodland landscapes, ULS data may have some benefits over TLS data for modeling relationships between herpetofauna and vegetation structure, which we discuss. However, for some species, only TLS data identified significant predictor variables among the LiDAR‐derived structural metrics. While the overall predictive power of models was relatively low (i.e., at most R2 = 0.32 for ULS overall abundance and R2 = 0.32 for abundance at the individual species level [three‐toed skink (Chalcides striatus)]), the ability to identify relationships between specific LiDAR structural metrics and the abundance and diversity of herpetofauna could be useful for understanding their habitat associations and managing reptile and amphibian populations.

Do reptile responses to habitat structure and time since fire depend on landscape structure?

Land use changes, such as the development of agriculture and plantation forestry, and altered fire regimes, are major drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide, influencing the availability of suitable habitat for species. Reptiles are sensitive to both these processes as they are influenced by native vegetation extent and habitat structure. While much is known about the independent effects of fire and land use change on species distributions, few studies have investigated potential interactive effects; specifically, whether the influence of site-scale variables on reptiles depends on the properties of the surrounding landscape. We sampled reptiles at 107 sites in fire-prone heathy woodland, interspersed with plantation forestry and agriculture in south-west Victoria, Australia. We investigated the responses of seven reptile species to both site-scale variables (time since fire and several measures of habitat structure) and landscape-scale variables (extent of native vegetation and plantations and the presence of pasture within a 3.14 square km area) to 1) identify whether species’ responses to fire and habitat depended on landscape structure, and 2) examine the relative influence of time since fire, habitat structure and landscape structure on reptile abundance. We predicted that responses to site-scale variables would vary with a key landscape structure variable: the amount of native vegetation cover. Further, we predicted that site-scale variables would be stronger predictors of species abundance than landscape-scale variables. Generalised linear models, accounting for imperfect detection, were used to estimate species responses to site and landscape-scale predictors. For two species (Amphibolurus muricatus and Liopholis whitii) there was evidence that their responses to site-scale variables depended on landscape structure. However, contrary to our first prediction, native vegetation cover was not the only landscape structure variable that influenced species’ responses to site-scale variables. Three species (Acritoscincus duperreyi, A. muricatus, and Lerista bougainvillii) responded to both habitat structure and landscape structure variables, though the relative influence of the variables at the different scales was varied among the species. One species (Lampropholis guichenoti) responded to fire and habitat structure variables at the site-scale but did not respond to landscape structure. One species (Aprasia striolata) responded to landscape structure variables but not to site-scale variables. Our second prediction, that site-scale variables would be the strongest predictors of abundance, was true for two species, but overall, our results were varied, with species responding at both scales. Examining species' responses to drivers at multiple spatial scales is essential for conservation management, as even species with low dispersal capacity such as reptiles can respond to processes occurring at large spatial scales.

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL HETEROGENEITY OF THE REPTILE ASSEMBLAGE IN WESTERN SIBERIA

Results of assessing the abundance and distribution of reptiles, which are poorly studied in this regard, are presented in comparison with those on birds and mammals in general and on hunting and commercial species in particular. As a result, data of the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the reptile populations are unique and of particular value. The studies were carried out over the West Siberian Plain and in the territory of the Altai-Sayan mountainous country. The numbers of reptiles are calculated and their dynamics given across western Siberia. At the same time, bootstrap analysis was used, making it possible to obtain more reliable conclusions on the dynamics of the animal numbers with an insufficient data background. However, the main objective of the study was to identify the main trends in the variability of the reptile populations as a whole. Information concerning the abundance of these animals serves only as the basis for solving this main problem. In addition, the data amassed allow for the dynamics of the numbers of reptiles for certain time periods to be talked about.

Assessment of reptile response to habitat degradation in arid and semi-arid regions

Reptiles are essential components of global biodiversity and dynamic ecosystems due to their ecological roles and functions. However, they face significant vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances and habitat degradation, resulting in their classification as the third most threatened vertebrate group globally. The current study examines reptile response to anthropogenic habitat degradation in the highly biodiverse Souss-Massa National Park (SMNP), located on the North African Atlantic coast. During 2021 and 2022, linear transects were established within four habitat categories experiencing varying degrees of vegetation cover degradation (undegraded, slightly degraded, moderately degraded, and highly degraded), caused by livestock overgrazing and vegetation clearance. Based on the comparisons of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index means, the vegetation cover differed significantly among the selected habitat categories, with a noticeable reduction in the natural vegetation cover as the level of habitat degradation increased. The visual encounter survey technique was used to search a total of 96 transects, with each of the studied habitat categories being represented by 24 transects. Species richness, diversity, abundance, composition and similarities of reptile communities were determined and compared between habitat categories. During the study period, 11 species (438 individuals) were encountered, accounting for 48 % of SMNP reptile fauna. Species richness, diversity and abundance differed significantly among habitat categories, with the lowest means recorded in the highly degraded areas. Reptiles responded differently to habitat degradation based on their taxonomic levels, thus indicating a species-specific impact of degradation. Species composition varied considerably among habitat categories, with highly degraded areas displaying significant differences and the lowest degree of similarity when compared to all other categories (p = 0.0006). Anthropogenic alterations in reptile abundance distribution and species occurrence likely account for the observed differences in species composition within the different habitat categories. The reported reptile responses to habitat degradation might be attributed to factors associated with natural vegetation, such as food availability, microhabitat preferences, or interactions with other species. Exploring these factors in future research could provide further insights into the mechanisms driving reptile community responses to habitat degradation. Such data can provide valuable information for implementing effective conservation measures to prevent anthropogenic habitat degradation and protect threatened species in arid and semi-arid areas.

Combining forest exploitation and heathland biodiversity: Edges structure drives microclimates quality and reptile abundance in a coniferous plantation

In Western Europe, natural habitats such as heathlands have been converted into many commercially managed forests, with severe impacts on biodiversity. In dense planted forests, forest edges are often the only suitable areas for ectothermic organisms highly dependent on open habitats for thermoregulation. Surprisingly, the influence of forest edges structure on the thermal quality of microhabitats and reptile species distribution remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined two reptile species and thermal quality of interior forest edges of a coniferous forest in Western France (Brittany). We focused on two hypotheses (i) the vegetation structure of the forest edges drives the thermal quality of the habitat and (ii) structural complexity of the forest edges influences the abundance of two heliothermic reptiles: the common adder (Vipera berus) and the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). We first deployed temperature sensitive data loggers to quantify thermal conditions along 16 cross-sections of inner forest margins. For each section, 4 temperature loggers were placed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 m from the driveway and we examined the relation to vegetation structure and canopy cover. Second, we carried visual encounter surveys in 55 edges in order to measure the response of two reptiles to the structure of the forest margin along exploitation driveway. Our results show that high local canopy cover decreases microhabitat quality within interior forest edges. We also found that common lizard abundance was significantly influenced by the edge orientation and increased with global canopy openness and ground level vegetation. Adder abundance only increased significantly with the driveway width, suggesting the unmodelled effect of other biotic/abiotic variables. Our study shows that thermal quality of interior edges and driveway characteristics are relevant to support heathland reptile populations. We posit that maintain strips of favourable microhabitats should be an efficient land sharing strategy to combine forestry activities and biodiversity conservation.

Ecological consequences of shifting habitat mosaics within and across years in an intermittent stream

Abstract Intermittent streams that cease to flow during dry periods represent more than half of the global river network, and are particularly common in arid and semi‐arid regions. They are characterised by high spatial and temporal variability in aquatic habitat, forming a shifting habitat mosaic that supports diverse assemblages of native and endemic species. Climate projections for much of the world predict greater variation in precipitation and increasing drought severity, suggesting a need to better understand species' responses to habitat variability within intermittent stream ecosystems. Here we explored changes in the distribution and abundance of aquatic vertebrates in response to a wide range of annual hydrologic conditions within a Mediterranean‐climate intermittent stream in California. We conducted wetted habitat and vertebrate abundance surveys during the dry season for 7 years, spanning both extreme wet and extreme dry annual precipitation conditions, and characterised the variation in the size, persistence, and spatial configuration of wetted habitats in relation to the observed abundance and composition of fishes, amphibians, and aquatic reptiles. We characterised the habitat mosaic using a k‐means clustering approach, and identified three habitat types with distinct size, persistence, and connectivity distributions. We found that some wetted habitat units persisted across all years, regardless of antecedent precipitation, whereas others dried in all but the wettest years. We determined that persistent pools, a subset of wetted habitats present in the stream, supported diverse assemblages of native species even during extreme dry conditions, while transient pools acted as important habitat for particular species and life stages, including a young‐of‐year minnow species. Linear mixed models indicated that species' abundances were influenced by habitat quantity, quality, and connectivity. Our study ‐ considers intermittent streams as shifting habitat mosaics and uses multi‐year surveys to understand the ecological consequences of habitat variability within and across years to advance our understanding of intermittent stream ecology and the implications of climate change for spatial and temporal patterns of refuge habitat.

Lack of refuge as a bottleneck for reptiles in intensive woody crops

Abstract The lack of refuge has been suggested as one of the main factors affecting reptiles in intensive crops, but this theory has not been explored to any great extent. The aim of this work is to compare the reptile abundance and species richness between traditional and intensive vineyards and olive groves, and to test the acceptance of artificial shelter due to its scarcity in the new intensive woody crop. A total of 288 transects were carried out (144 in olive groves and 144 in vineyards) in six different types of plots: traditional olive groves, traditional vineyards, intensive olive groves with and without artificial refuge, and trellis vineyards with and without artificial refuge. The results showed a greater species richness and abundance of reptiles in the traditional plots than in the intensive plots (independently of the experimental refuges added). An important number of animals were observed using the artificial refuges in olive groves. Furthermore, most of the individuals were located on or escaped to old trees in traditional systems, including an important proportion of reptiles hidden in olive trunk cavities, whereas more individuals were observed on the ground in intensive systems. Our finding suggests the importance for reptile communities of the traditional agricultural systems due to the high availability of the refuge provided by old olive tree trunks and free-standing gobelet vineyards. Our results show that providing refuge may mitigate the negative effects of woody crops intensification on reptile communities.

Factors affecting overwintering retreat-site selection in reptiles in an agricultural landscape

ContextUnderstanding what characteristics influence retreat-site selection by fauna is critical for both habitat management and species conservation. Despite the documented ecological values of surface rocks, there is limited knowledge of the attributes of surface rock that contribute to their use in agricultural landscapes or during winter months when reptiles are brumating, activity patterns are reduced, and sheltering individuals are most vulnerable to disturbance.ObjectivesWe surveyed reptiles sheltering beneath surface rocks in grazing farms in south-eastern Australia to address two questions: (i) What landscape factors influence the occurrence of reptiles over austral winter? (ii) What physical and thermal factors influence retreat-site selection?MethodsWe surveyed 14 sites, with three plots per site, stratified across a gradient of canopy cover. We measured landscape attributes of surveyed sites and thermal and physical characteristics of individual surface rocks to quantify relationships between the occurrence of reptiles in the landscape and the properties of retreats selected.ResultsWe found that relatively small patches of surface rock can support high reptile numbers, with density estimates up to of 208 individuals per hectare. Reptile abundance was positively associated with increased elevation and limited canopy cover. Reptiles selected smaller rocks with high surface area to volume ratio, were minimally embedded in the soil, and rocks supporting few invertebrates.ConclusionsConserving cryptozoic reptiles in agricultural landscapes can be enhanced through the appropriate management and retention of surface rock. We discuss implications for reptile conservation and surface rock management in agricultural landscapes.

Determinants of Herpetofaunal Diversity in a Threatened Wetland Ecosystem: A Case Study of the Ramaroshan Wetland Complex, Western Nepal.

Wetlands are among the highly threatened ecosystems due to anthropogenic activities. The Ramaroshan Wetland Complex (RWC) of Achham District, Nepal is one of the high-altitude wetlands facing human induced degradation and loss. Herpetofauna are key bio-indicators of environmental health and habitat quality and are useful to assess habitat conditions of such threatened ecosystems. This study quantified the land use and land cover (LULC) change in the RWC and documented the diversity and distribution pattern of herpetofauna. The LULC in the area (13.94 Km2) was analyzed for 1989, 2000, 2010 and 2021 by supervised classification of remote sensing images. Surveys were conducted along 25 transects, each of 200 m in length and environmental variables were recorded for every observation of herpetofauna. The LULC analysis revealed an overall loss of 16% of the total water body between 1989 (0.25 Km2) and 2021 (0.21 Km2). Eleven species of herpetofauna (five amphibians and six reptiles) within five families and two orders (i.e., Anura and Squamata), were recorded with low diversity (H' = 1.88312) and evenness (E = 0.3642) indices. The herpetofauna had a hump-shaped distribution along the elevation gradient with the highest richness and abundance at 2300 m asl. Amphibian abundance decreased with increasing distance to nearest water sources, whereas reptile abundance increased. Amphibians were more abundant in agricultural field and marsh land, whereas reptile abundance was higher around human settlements. Results indicate that the wetland area in the RWC is declining at an alarming rate and, in turn, might account for the low diversity and abundance of the herpetofauna.

Mongolian Marmot (<i>Marmota sibirica</i>) Ecosystem Engineering Effects on Herpetofauna

The Mongolian marmot (Marmota sibirica) is a relatively large-bodied, social rodent that lives in colonies across the Mongolian steppes and adjacent parts of China and Russia. Marmots serve as ecosystem engineers that display multiple functions on the steppe environments they inhabit. Mongolian marmots experienced a 75% decline across Mongolia in the 1990s that led to their listing as endangered globally. The decline of marmots likely affected other species given their importance to the ecosystems they inhabit. To examine the role of marmots on herpetofauna, we established drift fence arrays with associated pitfall and funnel traps on active marmot colonies, inactive colonies, and control sites in the forest-steppe and semi-desert zones of Mongolia. In total, we identified 555 individuals representing 5 species of reptiles in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (semi-desert) from 2010 – 2011 and 22 individuals of 3 species of reptiles and one amphibian species in Hustai National Park (forest-steppe) in 2014 and 2016. We found significantly higher species abundance and some diversity indices on active and inactive colonies compared to control sites in Hustai. Vegetation height and cover significantly affected the abundance and species richness of reptiles in Ikh Nart. In Ikh Nart, we found that under conditions of higher vegetation cover and height, reptiles were distributed more widely across the landscape, but with lower vegetation cover and height, reptiles associated more strongly with marmot burrows. Burrows likely provide shelter from extreme climatic conditions and refugia from predation. Our research provides insights into how marmots create important habitats for associated fauna. This and similar experimental approaches will allow us to better understand the biodiversity patterns in and around marmot burrows.

Traits influence reptile responses to fire in a fragmented agricultural landscape

ContextHabitat loss and fragmentation can interact with other threats, including altered fire regimes, and responses to these effects can be mediated by functional traits.ObjectivesTo determine how richness and abundance of reptile trait groups respond to habitat fragmentation, patch isolation and fire.MethodsWe surveyed reptiles in 30 sites over 3 years. Sites in remnant patches in farmland were adjacent to a conservation park with either recently burnt or long-unburnt habitat. The remnant patches were stratified by distance from the reserve. Sites were spatially paired, and we experimentally burnt one of each pair in farmland. Trait groups included size, reproduction, habitat position, diet, and activity period.ResultsNone of the trait groups benefited from experimental burns, while the burns reduced abundance of viviparous, small, and above-ground species. Species richness was lower in isolated sites than in sites close to the conservation park, while generalist trait groups appeared unaffected by patch isolation. Large-sized reptiles had higher abundance in remnants. There was not more rapid colonisation of burnt sites near recently burnt conservation park. Instead, low initial abundance may have been caused by fire in combination with drought, with high rainfall during the study allowing recovery and spill-over into adjacent remnants.ConclusionsLandscape structure appears to interact with natural fires, restoration burns and longer-term climatic trends to influence the abundance and distribution of reptiles. Traits mediate responses, enabling us to formulate a set of testable mechanistic hypotheses, which illustrates a pathway to generalisation and prediction.

A review of applications of environmental DNA for reptile conservation and management.

Reptile populations are in decline globally, with total reptile abundance halving in the past half century, and approximately a fifth of species currently threatened with extinction. Research on reptile distributions, population trends, and trophic interactions can greatly improve the accuracy of conservation listings and planning for species recovery, but data deficiency is an impediment for many species. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can detect species and measure community diversity at diverse spatio‐temporal scales, and is especially useful for detection of elusive, cryptic, or rare species, making it potentially very valuable in herpetology. We aim to summarize the utility of eDNA as a tool for informing reptile conservation and management and discuss the benefits and limitations of this approach. A literature review was conducted to collect all studies that used eDNA and focus on reptile ecology, conservation, or management. Results of the literature search are summarized into key discussion points, and the review also draws on eDNA studies from other taxa to highlight methodological challenges and to identify future research directions. eDNA has had limited application to reptiles, relative to other vertebrate groups, and little use in regions with high species richness. eDNA techniques have been more successfully applied to aquatic reptiles than to terrestrial reptiles, and most (64%) of studies focused on aquatic habitats. Two of the four reptilian orders dominate the existing eDNA studies (56% Testudines, 49% Squamata, 5% Crocodilia, 0% Rhynchocephalia). Our review provides direction for the application of eDNA as an emerging tool in reptile ecology and conservation, especially when it can be paired with traditional monitoring approaches. Technologies associated with eDNA are rapidly advancing, and as techniques become more sensitive and accessible, we expect eDNA will be increasingly valuable for addressing key knowledge gaps for reptiles.

Lightly-harvested rustic cocoa is a valuable land cover for amphibian and reptile conservation in human-modified rainforest landscapes

AbstractThe conservation of tropical biodiversity depends not only on forest remnants, but also on anthropogenic land covers. Some shade crops are considered wildlife-friendly agroecosystems, but their conservation value is context- and taxon-dependent. Amphibians and reptiles have received less attention despite their high sensitivity to habitat disturbance. We determined the conservation value of lightly-harvested rustic cocoa plantations for herpetofauna in the Lacandona region, Mexico. We compared 12 environmental variables between habitats. Then, we compared the abundance, species number and composition of amphibian and reptile assemblages. Within each habitat, we explored the relationships between environmental variables and abundance and species number. Tree density, litter cover and litter depth were higher in cocoa. Abundance of reptiles and amphibians were higher in cocoa than forest; species number did not differ. Habitat explained some of the variation (8%) in assemblage composition. In cocoa, amphibian abundance was positively related to canopy height and the presence of a humus layer, while reptile abundance was negatively related to relative humidity. We conclude that lightly-used rustic cocoa plantations can be suitable habitat for forest herpetofauna. As long as cocoa plantations do not replace existing forest cover, they can play an important role in the design of wildlife-friendly tropical landscapes.

Farming practice affects rice field animal biota during cultivation but not fallow periods in Taiwan

AbstractRice is one of the most important staple foods in the world, with irrigated rice paddies largely converted from natural wetlands. The effectiveness of rice fields in preserving species depends partially on management practices, including the usage of pesticides. Previous studies have focused predominantly on the cultivation period, leaving the potential effects of soil pesticide residues on organisms during the fallow periods underexplored. Other animals, such as waterbirds, also rely on aquatic invertebrates in flooded fallow fields for their survival. We investigated vertebrates and macroinvertebrates during cultivation and fallow periods in organic and conventional rice fields in Taiwan. The association of environmental factors with terrestrial and aquatic organisms was also analyzed. In total, 32,880 individuals from 144 invertebrate families and 381 individuals from 15 vertebrate families were recorded after nine samplings each in six organic and six conventional rice fields. The family richness and abundance of all invertebrates were higher in organic than in conventional fields during the cultivation period but were similar in fields under either agricultural practice during the fallow period. The differences in richness and abundance of terrestrial invertebrates between the two practices increased with progression of rice cultivation, while there was no difference in abundance of aquatic invertebrates during the fallow period. The richness and abundance of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and migratory waterbirds were not statistically different between the two practices. Our study suggested accumulative effects of pesticides on suppressing terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates during the cultivation period, but no negative effects of soil pesticide residues on aquatic invertebrates during the fallow period. This comprehensive study provided a holistic picture of macroinvertebrate and vertebrate fauna, as well as the potential ramifications of pesticide usage, in a representative Southeast Asian rice paddy ecosystem. Future studies should compare rice fields with natural wetlands to better assess how to capitalize on agroecosystems for biodiversity conservation.

The modernization of traditional vineyards into intensive trellis systems reduces the species richness and abundance of reptiles

Aim of the study: Traditional vineyards have, in the last few decades, been transformed into trellis systems, but little research has been carried out into the consequences as regards biodiversity. We compared the abundance and species richness of reptiles in conventional-traditional vineyards and trellis vineyards. Area of study: The study was conducted in a wine appellation area of origin denominated as Montilla-Moriles, Southern Spain. Material and methods: Reptile’s species richness and abundance were estimated by walking transects in 24 different vineyards (12 trellis and 12 traditional vineyards) in four consecutive years. Main results: The results showed an extremely low abundance in both management systems, since no reptiles were recorded in 43.1% of the transects. However, there was a greater abundance and diversity of reptiles in the traditional vineyards than in the trellis vineyards, with 7 vs. 3 species being found in traditional and trellis vineyards, respectively. Research highlights: The lack of refuge in trellis vineyards owing to the vertical growth of plants, whose branches grow higher from the ground, is probably the main cause of the lower abundance and species richness found in trellis systems, since both types of vineyard had bare ground owing to ploughing and the application of herbicides. Since the transformation of traditional vineyards into those with trellis systems is often subsidized, this modernization should be accompanied by certain agri-environmental measures (e.g., cover crops, artificial refuges or natural hedges) in order to compensate for the associated negative effects.

Resilience of reptiles to megafires.

Extreme climate events, together with anthropogenic land-use changes, have led to the rise of megafires (i.e., fires at the top of the frequency size distribution) in many world regions. Megafires imply that the center of the burnt area is far from the unburnt; therefore, recolonization may be critical for species with low dispersal abilities such as reptiles. We aimed to evaluate the effect of megafires on a reptile community, exploring to what extent reptile responses are spatially shaped by the distance to the unburnt area. We examined the short-term spatiotemporal response of a Mediterranean reptile community after two megafires (>20,000 ha) that occurred in summer 2012 in eastern Spain. Reptiles were sampled over 4 years after the fire in burnt plots located at different distances from the fire perimeter (edge, middle, and center), and in adjacent unburnt plots. Reptile responses were modeled with fire history, as well as climate and remotely sensed environmental variables. In total, we recorded 522 reptiles from 12 species (11 species in the burnt plots and nine in the unburnt plots). Reptile abundance decreased in burnt compared with unburnt plots. The community composition and species richness did not vary either spatially (unburnt and burnt plots) or temporally (during the 4 years). The persistence of reptiles in the burnt area supported their resilience to megafires. The most common lizard species was Psammodromus algirus; both adults and juveniles were found in all unburnt and burnt plots. This species showed lower abundances in burnt areas compared with the unburnt and a slow short-term abundance recovery. The lizard Psammodromus edwarsianus was much less abundant and showed a tendency to increase its abundance in burnt plots compared with unburnt plots. Within the megafire area, P. algirus and P. edwarsianus abundances correlated with the thermal-moisture environment and vegetation recovery regardless of the distance from the fire edge. These results indicated the absence of a short-term reptile recolonization from the unburnt zone, demonstrating that reptiles are resilient (in situ persistence) to megafires when environmental conditions are favorable.

Diversity of herpetofauna at restored cranberry bogs: A comparative survey of herpetofaunal diversity at a restored wetland in comparison to a retired cranberry bog to assess the restoration success

Wetlands perform critical ecological functions and provide wildlife habitats. Yet, wetland degradation continues at a global scale. In Massachusetts, USA, wetland restoration has reached remarkable heights, partly promoted by the retirement of cranberry bogs. In this study, to assess the effectiveness of cranberry-farm restoration for conservation of native herpetofauna, we surveyed both retired and restored cranberry bogs in south-eastern Massachusetts. Using both visual encounter surveys and baited aquatic traps, we documented herpetofaunal species and their relative abundance. Both survey methods combined, the cumulative herpetofaunal species richness at the restored bogs (16) exceeded that of the retired bogs (11). Our trap surveys indicated that the amphibian species richness at the retired bog was significantly greater than that of the restored bog. In contrast, reptilian species richness as well as the relative abundance of both amphibians and reptiles were significantly greater at the restored bog compared to the retired bog. Subsequent analyses we performed identified that greater habitat heterogeneity emerging from active restoration intervention was the underlying driver of elevated richness and abundance. Most frequently encountered herpetofauna at the restored versus retired bogs were habitat generalists with broader geographic ranges and are not of conservation concern. Our findings suggest that the restored bog we monitored is still in the early-recovery phase after active intervention. We urge the need for long-term herpetofaunal inventories via systematic, standard surveys to assess restoration success.