Uma avaliação da herpetofauna das florestas orientais de “Sweetgum” no sudoeste da Anatólia, Turquia

Oriental Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) is a threatened tree species restricted to Rhodes Island (Greece) and southern Anatolia (Turkey), best known for its rare riparian forests. These small patches of forests are severely fragmented and scattered, and are rarely found in southwestern Turkey. Based on field sampling and data compilation, we performed an assessment of the herpetofauna in these forests in southwestern Turkey during the spring of 2019 and 2021. Sampling was carried out using a line-transect method in 13 forests with various habitats, resulting in data at the community and population levels. Sixteen families, including 26 amphibian and reptile species (four anurans, four turtles, nine lizards, and nine snakes), were recorded from these unique forests, based on 1440 individuals. Twenty-two species were recorded for the first time from these forests; in addition, Emys orbicularis and Elaphe sauromates were recorded for the first time from the region. Richness in the forest patches, habitat use by the recorded species, and interspecific interactions are discussed to explain the conspicuous patterns observed in the species distributions. The unique distribution pattern of Phoenicolacerta laevis among the existing forest patches represents the most prominent finding, with implications for a recent introduction. The fossorial species Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Blanus strauchi, and Eryx jaculus are unlikely to occur in the Oriental Sweetgum forest due to annual flooding. The data obtained during this study will be transferred to the Oriental Sweetgum forest conservation action plan (2019–2024) as part of the biodiversity monitoring tools for use in the long-term conservation of these forests.O “Oriental Sweetgum” (Liquidambar orientalis) é uma espécie de árvore ameaçada, restrita à Ilha de Rodes (Grécia) e ao sul da Anatólia (Turquia), mais conhecida por suas raras florestas ripárias. Essas pequenas manchas de floresta são severamente fragmentadas e dispersas e raramente são encontradas no sudoeste da Turquia. Com base em amostragem de campo e compilação de dados, fizemos uma avaliação da herpetofauna nessas florestas no sudoeste da Turquia durante aprimavera de 2019 e 2021. A amostragem foi realizada pelo método de transecto de linha em 13 florestas com vários habitats, resultando em dados nos níveis de comunidade e população. Dezesseis famílias, incluindo 26 espécies de anfíbios e répteis (quatro anuros, quatro tartarugas, nove lagartos e nove serpentes), foram registradas nessas florestas únicas, com base em 1440 indivíduos. Vinte e duas espécies foram registradas pela primeira vez nessas florestas; além disso, Emys orbicularis e Elaphe sauromates foram registradas pela primeira vez na região. A riqueza nas manchas florestais, o uso do habitat pelas espécies registradas e as interações interespecíficas são discutidas para explicar os padrões conspícuos observados nas distribuições das espécies. O padrão único de distribuição de Phoenicolacerta laevis entre os fragmentos florestais existentes representa a descoberta mais proeminente, com implicações para uma introdução recente. É improvável que as espécies fossórias Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Blanus strauchi e Eryx jaculus ocorram nesse tipo florestal devido à inundação anual. Os dados obtidos durante este estudo serão usados no plano de ação de conservação da floresta “Oriental Sweetgum” (2019-2024) como parte das ferramentas de monitoramento da biodiversidade para uso na conservação dessas florestas a longo prazo

Reproductive Characteristics of the Kulzer’s Rock Lizard Phoenicolacerta kulzeri (Reptilia: Lacertidae)

The present study aims to determine, by histological examination, the female reproductive cycle of specimens of Kulzer’s rock lizards collected in a mountainous region in Lebanon. Females of Phoenicolacerta kulzeri followed a seasonal reproductive pattern. Winter hibernation period lasted for 5 months. Females of P. Kulzeri exhibited a reproductive activity during spring characterized by the presence of vitellogenic follicles in the ovaries and eggs in the oviducts. Oviposition occurred throughout the springtime. Up to two clutches were produced with an average clutch size of 2.9 eggs. Clutch size was significantly correlated to female body size. The attainment of sexual maturity was at a minimum size of 46 mm snout-vent length. The mean body size of adult females was 55.0 mm and did not differ significantly from that of adult males. Females showed a period of sexual rest in summer and none of them showed a reproductive activity in autumn. The female reproductive activity of P. kulzeri was well-synchronized with that of the males in spring; however, an autumnal asynchrony was observed between the female and male reproductive cycles, since males continued to exhibit a spermatogenetic activity

Helminth fauna of Lebanon lizard, Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray, 1838), (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Southern Turkey

In the years 2010 and 2014, fifty-four samples of Phoenicolacerta laevis from eight localities in Adana (n=6) and Hatay (n=48) were collected and examined for helminth parasites. New host and locality records were recorded. As a results of present study, three species of Digenea, Sonsinotrema tacapense, Prosthodendrium chilostomum, Brachylaima sp. (metacercaria); two species of Cestoda, Oochoristica tuberculata and Mesocestoides sp. and four species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon sp., Thubunaea sp. and a larva of the Ascaridiidae Ascarididae gen. sp. were reported for lizard samples. We document new host records for all of helminth species reported here. Sonsionotrema tacapense (Digenea), and Thubunaea sp. (Nematoda) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. There are, to our knowledge, no reports of helminths for P. laevis in Turkey and also from its range

The first helminth study on Brandt's Persian Lizard Iranolacerta brandtii (De Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Van Province, Turkey

Population of Iranolacerta brandtii lizard including 56 (21 female, 34 male,1 juvenile) samples were examined for helminths. 17 of them were found to harbour one or more helminth parasites, while 39 didn't harbor any. Two helminth species were determined. These belong to Phylum: Nematoda, Spauligodon aloisei Casanova, Milazzo, Ribas & Cagnin, 2003 and Skrjabinodon medinae. Garcia-Calvente, 1948. This study represents new host and locality records in both host lizard and the helminth species. Sp. aloisei is recorded for the first time; Sk. medinae is the third report from Turkey nevertheless Sk. medinae is a new host record for I. brandtii

An update of thin-toed gecko Tenuidactylus bogdanovi (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) population status in Odessa City, Ukraine

The new data regarding the current status of Bogdanov’s thin-toed gecko population in Odessa city are presented. A population density of lizards is relatively high. Fourteen individuals of T. bogdanovi (21.4 % of juveniles) were found at the “Moldavanka” historical district on an area of circa 3.75 hectares in late July — early August 2017. The positive dynamics of urban gecko’s population allows considering T. bogdanovi as naturalized adventive species — Turanian faunistic element in the fauna of Ukraine. The gecko’s population increase and steadily expands distributional area to several dozens of hectares, what was confirmed by indirect evidence. The scientific significance of only European population of T. bogdanovi is also highlighted. Photos of Bogdanov’s thin-toed gecko in its habitats in Odessa city are published for the first time.Представлены данные о современном состоянии популяции тонкопалого геккона Богданова в г. Одесса. Плотность населения ящериц достаточно высока. На рубеже июля и августа 2017 г. в историческом районе «Молдаванка» на площади около 3,75 га было выявлено четырнадцать особей T. bogdanovi (21,4 % этого числа составляли ювенилы). Положительная динамика городской популяции с полным на то основанием позволяет считать T. bogdanovi натурализовашимся адвентивным видом (туранский фаунистический элемент в фауне Украины). По косвенным признакам, геккон увеличивает численность и продолжает расширять область обитания, которая на сегодняшний день достигла нескольких десятков гектаров. Обсуждается научное значение единственной европейской популяции T. bogdanovi. Фотографии геккона Богданова в среде его обитания в черте г. Одесса публикуются впервые.Представлено відомості щодо сучасного стану популяції тонкопалого гекона Богданова в м. Одеса. Щільність населення ящірок є вельми високою. Наприкінці липня — на початку серпня 2017 року в історичному районі «Молдаванка» на ділянці площею близько 3,75 га було виявлено чотирнадцять особин T. bogdanovi, причому 21,4 % складали ювенільні особини. На основі позитивної динаміки міської популяції можна вважати T. bogdanovi натуралізованим адвентивним видом (туранський фауністичний елемент у фауні України). За непрямими ознаками, гекон збільшує чисельність і продовжує розширювати територію проживання, яка на сьогодні сягає кількох десятків гектарів. Обговорюється наукове значення єдиної в Європі популяції цього виду. Вперше опубліковано фотографії гекона Богданова в середовищі його існування в межах м. Одеса

The Importance of Urban Eco-gardens for Biodiversity and Human Sustainability: A Case Study from Palestine

The situation in Palestine is of concern where global threats of climate change, overexploitation, habitat destruction, invasive species, and pollution are compounded by occupation and conflict. Thus, almost 1/3rd of vascular plant species are rare and over 50 are listed as endangered or rare based on their abundance and presence in grids studied earlier. Here, we describe the development of a conservation botanic garden that works via research, education, and direct in situ and ex situ conservation of plant species. The garden now boasts 381 species of vascular plants (63 are rare). The team scientifically and selectively introduced some rare and endemic species, developed educational modules, and engaged the community in all aspects of planning and growth of this garden. It has acted as a model for threatened and protected areas in the state of Palestine, as well as becoming a national oasis for both wildlife and humans. The lessons learned from this experience include: 1) principles of minimal intervention in eco-friendly ways producing zones of permaculture and gardening towards conservation (ex situ and in situ conservation), while allowing botanic garden functionality, 2) involvement of staff, volunteers, experts, and community in education and conservation efforts, 3) value of research in plants and animals for integrated ecosystem management. The outcome of this work is a maximally utilitarian garden for areas like education, direct conservation, research, and human satisfaction whilst ensuring long-term sustainability in a nascent state in the midst of a difficult political situation

Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean basin is one of the most geologically, biologically, and culturally complex region and the only case of a large sea surrounded by three continents. The chapter is focused on a diversity of Mediterranean amphibians and reptiles, discussing major threats to the species and its conservation status. There are 117 amphibians, of which 80 (68%) are endemic and 398 reptiles, of which 216 (54%) are endemic distributed throughout the Basin. While the species diversity increases in the north and west for amphibians, the reptile diversity increases from north to south and from west to east direction. Amphibians are almost twice as threatened (29%) as reptiles (14%). Habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive/alien species, unsustainable use, and persecution are major threats to the species. The important conservation actions should be directed to sustainable management measures and legal protection of endangered species and their habitats, all for the future of Mediterranean biodiversity

Integration of Bayesian molecular clock methods and fossil-based soft bounds reveals early Cenozoic origin of African lacertid lizards

Background Although current molecular clock methods offer greater flexibility in modelling historical evolutionary events, calibration of the clock with dates from the fossil record is still problematic for many groups. Here we implement several new approaches in molecular dating to estimate evolutionary ages of Lacertidae, an Old World family of lizards with a poor fossil record and uncertain phylogeny. Four different models of rate variation are tested in a new program for Bayesian phylogenetic analysis called TreeTime, based on a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. We incorporate paleontological uncertainty into divergence estimates by expressing multiple calibration dates as a range of probabilistic distributions. We also test the reliability of our proposed calibrations by exploring effects of individual priors on posterior estimates. Results According to the most reliable model, as indicated by Bayes factor comparison, modern lacertids arose shortly after the K/T transition and entered Africa about 45 million years ago, with the majority of their African radiation occurring in the Eocene and Oligocene. Our findings indicate much earlier origins for these clades than previously reported, and we discuss our results in light of paleogeographic trends during the Cenozoic. Conclusions This study represents the first attempt to estimate evolutionary ages of a specific group of reptiles exhibiting uncertain phylogenetic relationships, molecular rate variation and a poor fossil record. Our results emphasize the sensitivity of molecular divergence dates to fossil calibrations, and support the use of combined molecular data sets and multiple, well-spaced dates from the fossil record as minimum node constraints. The bioinformatics program used here, TreeTime, is publicly available, and we recommend its use for molecular dating of taxa faced with similar challenges

Efeitos da evolução do nicho climático na especiação de lacertídeos (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Mestrado em Ecologia AplicadaA evolução do nicho climático é um dos principais fatores a moldar as dinâmicas da diversidade de muitos grupos de plantas e animais. Esta relação não revela um padrão generalizável ao longo de regiões e grupos taxonómicos. De facto, os efeitos da evolução do nicho climático na taxa de diversificação poderão ser idiossincráticos. Contudo, algumas limitações nos métodos que são usualmente usados para testar tal relação poderão condicionar o estudo destes eventos macroevolutivos. Aqui, pela primeira vez, testamos a relação entre a evolução do nicho climático e taxas de especiação num grupo taxonómico de répteis terrestres (Squamata: Lacertidae). Nós combinamos numa perspetiva bayesiana uma nova abordagem que tem em conta a heterogeneidade da taxa ao longo da história evolutiva de um grupo taxonómico e modelos não lineares. Nós mostramos que a variação da taxa de especiação de lacertídeos está relacionada com a evolução de ambas a posição do nicho e a largura do nicho relativamente à temperatura, e que esta relação é melhor explicada por um modelo quadrático. Para além disso, os nossos resultados sugerem que poderá haver um limite de variação do nicho climático para o qual a especiação não aumenta e começa a desacelerar. Especialização na largura do nicho parece atuar como o fator limitante que impede o aumento da especiação. Estes resultados poderão ser relevantes num cenário de alterações climáticas, e poderão contribuir na interpretação de tendências no futuro relativamente à diversificação de lagartos.The evolution of the climatic niche is one of the main factors shaping diversity dynamics in many groups of plants and animals. This relationship does not show a pervasive pattern across regions and clades. In fact, the effects of the evolution of climatic niche on diversification rates might be idiosyncratic. However, some limitations in the methods that are commonly used to test such relationship may undermine the study of these macroevolutionary events. Here, for the first time, we examine the relationship between climatic niche evolution and rates of speciation in a clade of terrestrial reptiles (Squamata: Lacertidae). We combine in a Bayesian framework a new approach that accounts for rate heterogeneity across the evolutionary history of a clade and non-linear models. We show that the variation in the speciation rate of lacertids is related to the evolution of both niche position and niche breadth for temperature, and that a quadratic model best predicts this relationship. Moreover, our results suggest that there might be a threshold of variation in climatic niche from which speciation can no longer increase and starts to slow down. Specialization in niche breadth seems to act as the limiting factor that prevents speciation to increase. These results may be relevant under a climate change scenario, and may contribute to interpreting future trends regarding the diversification of lizards

At What Cost? Trade-Offs and Influences on Energetic Investment in Tail Regeneration in Lizards Following Autotomy.

Caudal autotomy, the ability to shed a portion of the tail, is a widespread defence strategy among lizards. Following caudal autotomy, and during regeneration, lizards face both short- and long-term costs associated with the physical loss of the tail and the energy required for regeneration. As such, the speed at which the individual regenerates its tail (regeneration rate) should reflect the fitness priorities of the individual. However, multiple factors influence the regeneration rate in lizards, making inter-specific comparisons difficult and hindering broader scale investigations. We review regeneration rates for lizards and tuatara from the published literature, discuss how species' fitness priorities and regeneration rates are influenced by specific, life history and environmental factors, and provide recommendations for future research. Regeneration rates varied extensively (0-4.3 mm/day) across the 56 species from 14 family groups. Species-specific factors, influencing regeneration rates, varied based on the type of fracture plane, age, sex, reproductive season, and longevity. Environmental factors including temperature, photoperiod, nutrition, and stress also affected regeneration rates, as did the method of autotomy induction, and the position of the tail also influenced regeneration rates for lizards. Additionally, regeneration could alter an individual's behaviour, growth, and reproductive output, but this varied depending on the species