Ecological corridors for the amphibians and reptiles in the Natura 2000 sites of Romania

Abstract

Landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation are key challenges for biodiversity conservation. As Earth’s landscape is increasingly dominated by anthropogenic land use, it is clear that broad-scale systems of nature reserves connected by corridors are needed to enable the dispersal of flora and fauna. The European Union currently supports a continent-wide network of protected areas, the Natura 2000 program, but this program lacks the necessary connectivity component. To examine whether a comprehensive network could be built in order to protect amphibians and reptiles, two taxonomic groups sensitive to environmental changes due to their physiological constrains and low dispersal capacity, we used species’ distribution maps, the sites of community interest (SCIs) in Romania, and landscape resistance rasters. Except Vipera ursinii rakosiensis, all amphibians and reptiles had corridors mapped that, when assembled, provided linkages for up to 27 species. Natura 2000 species were not good candidates for umbrella species as these linkages covered only 17% of the corridors for all species. Important Areas for Connectivity were identified in the Carpathian Mountains and along the Danube River, further confirming these regions as hot spots for biodiversity in Europe, where successful linkages are most likely. In the end, while such corridors may not be created just for amphibians and reptiles, they can easily be incorporated into more complex linkages with corridors for more charismatic species, therefore enhancing the corridors’ value in terms of quality and structure.

Natrix natrix after dark: citizen science sheds light on the common grass snake’s nightlife

“…The observations in our database cover the entire activity period of the common grass snake and most individuals were recorded between May and August, when the species is most active across its distribution range. A large number of nocturnal individuals were recorded during the month of May, coinciding with a peak in activity as a result of mating ( Fuhn & Vancea, 1961 ; Speybroeck et al, 2016 ; Sahlean, Strugariu & Gherghel, 2023 ). Snakes were found active over a wide range of mean daily temperatures (4.7–31 °C), without any significant difference in temperature averages between days in which snakes were active during the crepuscular and nocturnal observations.…”

Temperature and Prey Species Richness Drive the Broad-Scale Distribution of a Generalist Predator

“…Even assuming that the species can disperse unhindered based on their dispersal ability, habitat loss and fragmentation and land-use changes, which are among the main drivers of the global decline of amphibians and reptiles [112], might render the expanded suitable space inaccessible [113]. Therefore, the dispersal ability of species and connectivity will crucially affect the future distribution of the species [17,114]. It seems that climate warming along with the ongoing habitat fragmentation [115] minimizes the reptiles' chance to move to areas with suitable environmental conditions [17,110].…”

Research on the reuse path of the Third Front Construction Heritage’s stock space in China based on value assessment

“…The imperative lies in the rewilding of the ecological domain through the implementation of ecological restoration, the establishment of green infrastructure, and the creation of industrial landscapes. The genesis of the rewilding concept can be traced back to North America, where the term was first coined by Dave Foreman in 1992, subsequently defined by conservation biologists Michael Soulé and Reed Noss in 1998 as a conservation approach predicated upon the principles of 'core zones, corridors, and predators' [47]. In 2004, Dave Foreman expounded upon the notion of rewilding as a conservation strategy, Rewilding North America: A Vision for Conservation in the 21st Century [48].…”