Small terrestrial mammals of Albania: distribution and diversity (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Rodentia)

Abstract

In this paper new records are reported for 23 species of small terrestrial mammals (STM) of Albania collected during the field work campaigns organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening capacity in National Nature Protection – preparation for Natura 2000 network” (NaturAL) in Albania during the summer and autumn of 2016 and 2017 Data on small mammals were primarily collected through Sherman live-trapping campaigns in six high priority protected areas of Albania: Korab-Koritnik, Bredhi i Hotovës, Tomorri, Llogara-Karaburun, Divjakë-Karavasta, Liqeni i Shkodrës (Skadar lake), Lëpushë-Vermosh. Other data were obtained by analysis of owl pellets or by direct observation of individuals (dead or alive) in the field. For 21 species Erinaceus roumanicus, Neomys anomalus, Crocidura suaveolens, Crocidura leucodon, Suncus etruscus, Talpa stankovici/caeca, Myocastor coypus, Sciurus vulgaris, Glis glis, Dryomys nitedula, Muscardinus avellanarius, Microtus levis/arvalis, Microtus subterraneus, Microtus thomasi, Microtus felteni, Myodes glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus epimelas, Mus musculus, and Mus macedonicus additional records are provide and their distributions reviewed, while the presence of two new species of shrews (Sorex araneus and Sorex minutus) for Albania is reported for the first time. A comprehensive review of the published and unpublished distribution records of STM species of the country is made, together with an updated checklist and distribution maps of the species.

Relationship between landscape structure and the diet of Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba) at different distances from the Drava River ecological corridor

“…The latter is related to the result that the Mecsek and Tolna-Baranya hill country dominated by agricultural areas also negatively affect the frequency of the Lesser White-toothed Shrew. Several studies have revealed that Crocidura species prefer open, dry grassy areas (Bosé & Guidali 2001, Bego et al 2008, Fischer et al 2011, Paspali et al 2013, Szép et al 2019, but are less frequently associated with forest edges and forests as described in Moravia (Suchomel & Heroldová 2004, Suchomel & Purchart 2011, Slovakia (Lešo et al 2008) and also Romania (Barti 2011). Based on the results of the land use level analysis, cultivated areas have a negative effect on the abundance of the Crocidura genus, which contradicts some studies in which the possible positive effect of agricultural areas on the abundance of this species has been highlighted (Bosé & Guidali 2001, Heroldová et al 2007, Veselovský et al 2017.…”

Diversity of Albanian Cladoniaceae

“…Most of the early reports (Markgraf 1927(Markgraf , 1931(Markgraf , 1932Hafellner & Kashta 2003;Svoboda et al 2012) were published as C. convoluta but we include it in the concept of C. foliacea because there are no molecular differences between these taxa (Pino-Bodas et al 2010a, 2018, although specimens called C. convoluta are of larger size due to its adaptation to calcareous soil and dry situations. This common species was collected in Durrës, Elbasan, Gjirokastër, Korçë and Vlorë counties from sea level to 1700 m altitude.…”

“…The karstic soils (limestones) are predominant, although there are locations with serpentine substrates containing a certain amount of silicates, yeilding slightly acid soils (Bego et al 2018).…”

BioNNA: the Biodiversity National Network of Albania

“…In Albania, 411 species of plants and 1206 species of animals are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Zeneli et al 2014). Although the country is known to host 3629 species of plants and 1751 of animals (Meço andMullaj 2015, Olšavská et al 2016), these figures are likely to increase, since some areas in the Albanian territory are largely unexplored (Olšavská et al 2016), especially in the north-and south-eastern portions of the country and some taxa, particularly animals, are still understudied even in well-known areas (Bego et al 2018). To date, BioNNA has aggregated 9967 occurrence records of plants (1452 infrageneric taxa) and 11376 occurrence records of animals (637 infrageneric taxa).…”

“…BioNNA will also be useful to scientists in depicting gaps in knowledge of the biodiversity of Albania, hence driving new sampling efforts. A large portion of Albania still remains under-investigated and it is likely that several interesting/rare taxa occurring in the country are still to be reported (Bego et al 2018). Academics will have a fundamental role in the development of BioNNA, since they will be involved in supporting the Albanian Ministry of Environment for its future growth.…”