Setting priorities for the conservation of terrestrial vertebrates in Hungary

The first step towards the preservation of endangered species is to establish an appropriate ranking system, which assigns different nature conservation priority scores to different taxa. The system developed by Millsap et al. (Wildlife Monograph 1990, 111: 1–57) has been modified and applied to the mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species of Hungary. Three variable groups have been compiled, including eight (measuring biological characteristics), three (features of the Hungarian population) and five (evaluation of research and conservation actions) variables, respectively. In cooperation with several experts, we gave scores to all 379 taxa considered. The most endangered taxon proved to be the Hungarian Meadow Viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis), which occurs only in Hungary with just a few hundred individuals. The species rank depends on the availability and quality of data, so it is urgent to devote more effort to survey and monitoring projects. We present a possible application of the species list, where the taxa are grouped according to their legal status in Hungary (strictly protected, protected, partly protected and not protected), and the validity of this categorisation was tested by applying multivariate discriminant analysis. Only 58.36% of the species were correctly classified. The reasons for stronger than expected protection include popularity, attractiveness, and local rarity, while reasons for lower protection include preference for hunting and control of predators and pests.     

Does variation between dry and wet seasons affect tropical forest mammals' occupancy and detectability by camera traps? Case study from the Udzungwa Mountains,Tanzania

The increasing use of camera trapping coupled to occupancy analysis to study terrestrial mammals has opened the way to inferential studies that besides estimating the probability of presence explicitly consider detectability. This in turn allows considering factors that can potentially confound the estimation of occupancy and detection probability, including seasonal variations in rainfall. To address this, we conducted a systematic camera trapping survey in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania by deploying twenty camera traps for 30 days in dry and wet seasons and used dynamic occupancy modelling to determine the effect of season on estimated occupancy and detection probability for species with >10 capture events. The sampling yielded 7657 and 6015 images in dry and wet seasons, respectively, belonging to 21 mammal species. Models with no season dependency and with season‐dependent detectability were best supported, indicating that neither colonization nor extinction varied with seasons and hence occupancy did not vary. Only bush pig (Potamochoerus larvatus) showed a significant decrease in detectability from dry to wet seasons. Our study indicates that seasonal variation in rainfall may have limited effect on occupancy and detectability of resident mammals in Udzungwa rainforests; however, it remains a factor to consider when designing future studies.     

Using Reptile and Amphibian Activities in the Classroom

Reptiles and amphibians are a diverse and interesting group of organisms. The four activities described in this article take students' curiosity into the realm of scientific understanding. The activities involve the concepts of species identification; animal adaptations, communication, and habitat; and conservation.     

山西历山地区的两栖爬行动物

１９９３－ １９９７ 年在山西历山地区对两栖和爬行动物进行了调查。此区共有两栖动物１１ 种, 隶２ 目５ 科８属, 其中, 古北界种３ 种、东洋界种３ 种、广布种５ 种; 爬行动物２４ 种, 隶３ 目７ 科１４ 属, 其中, 古北界种７种、东洋界种１２ 种、广布种４ 种、特有种１ 种。     

Projected Effects of Climate Change on Patterns of Vertebrate and Tree Species Richness in the Conterminous United States

General circulation models (GCM) predict that increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases will lead to dramatic changes in climate. It is known that the spatial variability of species richness over continental spatial scales is strongly correlated with contemporary climate. Assuming that this relationship between species richness and climate persists under conditions of increased CO₂, what changes could we expect to occur in terms of species richness? To address this question, I used observed relationships between contemporary richness and climate, coupled with climate projections from five GCM, to project these future changes. These models predict that the richness of vertebrate ectotherms will increase over most of the conterminous United States. Mammal and bird richness are predicted to decrease in much of the southern US and to increase in cool, mountainous areas. Woody plant richness is likely to increase throughout the North and West and to decrease in the southwestern deserts. These projections represent changes that are likely to occur over long time scales (millennia); short-term changes are expected to be mainly negative.     

Zoogeography of the herpetofauna of Botswana and its management implications

A taxonomic analysis of data reveals that there are more reptilian than amphibian species in Botswana and that the number of reptilian species generally decreases from the mesic north to the arid southern part of the country. Squamates (lizards and snakes) compose the majority of the reptilian fauna. An analysis of community reveals that the area of Botswana north of the 22° parallel is the most important in terms of faunal diversity, and thus special consideration in terms of fauna conservation and management is warranted. Results show that climatic conditions in Botswana have profound affects on the distribution of herpetofaunal species.

Résumé

Une analyse taxonomique des données révèle qu'il y a plus d'espèces de reptiles que d'amphibiens au Botswana et que le nombre d'espèces de reptiles diminue généralement du nord vers le sud aride du pays. Les squamates (lézards et serpents) composent la majeure partie de la faune reptilienne. Une analyse des communautés révèle que la partie du Botswana au nord du 22^e parallèle est la plus importante en terme de diversité faunistique et que ceci justifie une considération spéciale pour la conservation et la gestion de la faune. Les résultats montrent que les conditions climatiques au Botswana affectent profondément la distribution des espèces de reptiles.     

西藏两栖爬行动物考察报告1.从拉萨到察隅和墨脱62K

2004年7月17日～8月20日,由沈阳师范大学组织、世界自然保护联盟中国两栖爬行动物专家组参与进行了西藏两栖爬行动物考察.本文简要报道藏东队从拉萨到察隅的考察结果,本线路考察共采集到302份两栖爬行动物标本及大量蝌蚪,以及丰富的DNA组织样品和上万张影像图片资料.标本经鉴定隶属7科12属17种.     

西藏两栖爬行动物考察报告 1．从拉萨到察隅和墨脱62K（图版Ⅰ，Ⅱ，Ⅲ，Ⅳ）

2004年7月17日～8月20日,由沈阳师范大学组织、世界自然保护联盟中国两栖爬行动物专家组参与进行了西藏两栖爬行动物考察。本文简要报道藏东队从拉萨到察隅的考察结果,本线路考察共采集到302份两栖爬行动物标本及大量蝌蚪,以及丰富的DNA组织样品和上万张影像图片资料。标本经鉴定隶属7科12属17种。     

香港的两栖和爬行动物

香港及其附近水域已有纪录的两栖和爬行动物共4目23科70属107种。本文着重分析陆地与淡水产种类,计有4目21科63属98种,其中目前仅见于香港的特有种4种,物种密度高达897．4／104km2,东洋界种类占绝对优势,其中主要为南中国成分,其次为印度支那成分和印度马来成分,香港与我国东南沿海各省（区）具有很高的生物相似值（＞0．4）,在动物地理区划上属于东洋界华南区东南沿海亚区。香港地处北半球亚热带季风区,气候温暖湿润,雨量充沛,适合两栖爬行动物的生存和繁衍;但由于面积不大、地貌较不复杂,随着经济的发展和人口的增加,它们生存的地域越来越缩小,再加以人为的干扰,物种和数量有减少的趋势。     

广西涠洲岛鸟类自然保护区的两栖爬行动物

2008年5～6月对广西涠洲岛鸟类自然保护区的两栖爬行动物进行调查,共记录到两栖类7种,爬行类16种,隶属于3目11科.与18年前的调查结果对比,生境的变化使岛上两栖爬行动物的分布范围和多度发生一些改变.2008年初的冰冻灾害使涠洲岛的两栖爬行类损失较大.涠洲岛与邻近大陆的两栖爬行动物物种相似,无特有种.     

云南高黎贡山自然保护区赧亢片区鱼和两栖爬行动物多样性调查报告

2006年8月对高黎贡山自然保护区赧亢片区开展了鱼类、两栖和爬行动物的资源调查。调查结果,赧亢片区共有鱼类4种,隶属2目4科4属;两栖动物10种,隶属2目4科8属,其中云南特有种4种;爬行动物9种．隶属2目3科8属。赧亢片区的物种全为东洋界种,区系成分为西南、华南区,或者两区所共有的成分组成。将赧亢片区与邻近的高黎贡山自然保护区和小黑山省级自然保护区（小黑山片区）的多样性对比,赧亢片区不仅具有较高的物种多样性,亦是连接两个保护区物种交流和基因流动的重要通道。