New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation
The critically endangered Cyprus grass snake (<i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i>) 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 a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/1077 |
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| author | Savvas Zotos Marilena Stamatiou Andrea Naziri Sotiris Meletiou Stalo Demosthenous Konstantinos Perikleous Elena Erotokritou Marina Xenophontos Despo Zavrou Kyriaki Michael Lefkios Sergides |
| author_facet | Savvas Zotos Marilena Stamatiou Andrea Naziri Sotiris Meletiou Stalo Demosthenous Konstantinos Perikleous Elena Erotokritou Marina Xenophontos Despo Zavrou Kyriaki Michael Lefkios Sergides |
| author_sort | Savvas Zotos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The critically endangered Cyprus grass snake (<i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i>) 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 <i>N. n. cypriaca</i> 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:26:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5421c110c0cd4f609c98d77de836e064 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:26:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5421c110c0cd4f609c98d77de836e0642023-11-21T14:56:29ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-04-01114107710.3390/ani11041077New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its ConservationSavvas Zotos0Marilena Stamatiou1Andrea Naziri2Sotiris Meletiou3Stalo Demosthenous4Konstantinos Perikleous5Elena Erotokritou6Marina Xenophontos7Despo Zavrou8Kyriaki Michael9Lefkios Sergides10Terra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusDepartment of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, 28th Octovriou Avenue 20–22, Engomi, Nicosia 2414, CyprusDepartment of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, 28th Octovriou Avenue 20–22, Engomi, Nicosia 2414, CyprusDepartment of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, 28th Octovriou Avenue 20–22, Engomi, Nicosia 2414, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusTerra Cypria, The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Agiou Andreou 341, Limassol 3035, CyprusThe critically endangered Cyprus grass snake (<i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i>) 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 <i>N. n. cypriaca</i> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/1077Cyprus grass snakedistributionregional scalerapid surveyephemeral streams |
| spellingShingle | Savvas Zotos Marilena Stamatiou Andrea Naziri Sotiris Meletiou Stalo Demosthenous Konstantinos Perikleous Elena Erotokritou Marina Xenophontos Despo Zavrou Kyriaki Michael Lefkios Sergides New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation Animals Cyprus grass snake distribution regional scale rapid survey ephemeral streams |
| title | New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation |
| title_full | New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation |
| title_fullStr | New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation |
| title_short | New Evidence on the Distribution of the Highly Endangered <i>Natrix natrix cypriaca</i> and Implications for Its Conservation |
| title_sort | new evidence on the distribution of the highly endangered i natrix natrix cypriaca i and implications for its conservation |
| topic | Cyprus grass snake distribution regional scale rapid survey ephemeral streams |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/1077 |
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