Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Tarkhnishvili, D., Kandaurov, A., & Bukhnikashvili, A. (2002). Declines of amphibians and reptiles in georgia during the 20th century: Virtual vs. actual problem. Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie, 9, 89–107.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:17:25 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Tarkhnishvili2002 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Asien - Asia, Echsen - saurians, Emydidae, Emys orbicularis, Habitat - habitat, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Schlangen - snakes Creators: Bukhnikashvili, Kandaurov, Tarkhnishvili Collection: Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Testudo graeca Emys orbicularis Mauremys caspica Currently, 12 amphibian and 54 reptile species are known for Georgia. We analysed 437 records of amphibian and reptile localities that belong to the period before 1930, and compared them with the current distribution of the same species. The data derive from publications from the last 40 years, and the author's observations, 49 out of 437 old species/habitats could not be confirmed, in spite of regular recent analysis of a location. However, the analysis demonstrates that the reason species an absent is wrong species identification by earlier authors, nomenclatural changes, wrong or imprecise localisation, or miss-labelling, rather than real extinction. In only 20 cases must an extinction of a species from a locality be assumed. This applies mainly to amphibian and reptile species that are dependent on dry, steppelike, or shrubby landscapes, which are found in Georgia at the northern edge of their ranges- The northern border of the distribution of Pelobates syriacus, Eirenis collaris, Malpolon monspessulanus, and Vipera lebetina retreated 8-50 km southwards during the 20th century; the upper altitudinal borders of the distributions of Lacerta strigata, Typhlops vermicularis and Eryx jaculus in eastern Georgia have been displaced 200-300 m downwards. Triturus karelinii and Bufo viridis disappeared from the south-western (Ajarian) fragment of the Georgian Black Sea coast. It is remarkable that extinction was assumed most often for species that depend on relatively dry treeless landscapes and never for species that depend on mesophytic forest habitats.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |