Climate warming is one of the most important threats to biodiversity. Ectothermic organisms such as amphibians and reptiles are especially vulnerable climatic conditions affect them directly. Ecological niche models (ENMs) increasingly popular in ecological studies, but several drawbacks exist, including limited ability account for dispersal potential species. In this study, we use ENMs explore impact global climate change on Caspian whip snake (Dolichophis caspius) model with low abilities...

ABSTRACT Aim This study investigates the spatial distribution and climatic niche differentiation between melanistic non‐melanistic colour morphs of common adder ( Vipera berus ) across species range. We aim to elucidate role environmental factors in shaping geographic ecological variation polymorphism within this species. Location The Palearctic region. Methods first compiled georeferenced occurrence records from citizen science databases map adder's V. ). Then, point‐pattern analyses were...

ABSTRACT Background and Aim Colour polymorphic populations constitute excellent model systems for testing ecological evolutionary hypotheses, as alternate colourations are associated with differences in various biological, behavioural life‐history traits. Melanism is the most common obvious form of polymorphism. In reptiles general (and snakes particular), thermal melanism has been a popular hypothesis used to explain appearance black individuals. It suggests that trade‐off exists between...

Abstract Landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation are key challenges for biodiversity conservation. As Earth’s landscape is increasingly dominated by anthropogenic land use, it clear that broad-scale systems of nature reserves connected corridors needed to enable the dispersal flora fauna. The European Union currently supports a continent-wide network protected areas, Natura 2000 program, but this program lacks necessary connectivity component. To examine whether comprehensive could be...

During 2005-2008, field observations were made on the distribution and habitat occupation by Podarcis muralis in middle Bistrita river basin. Prior to our study, this lizard was known from only 5 localities Romanian Moldavia (Bicaz, Cheile Bicazului, Lacu Rosu, Gherman Dodeni). Through present paper authors acknowledge existence of 28 sites populated P. propose a new model for range expansion species area using man- structures such as road railway fences beds, benefiting mild climate...

Activity patterns in animals are often species-specific, and can be generally categorized as diurnal, crepuscular, or nocturnal. Understanding these provides insight into ecological adaptations behaviors. The common grass snake (

Abstract The B ukovina blind mole rat S palax graecus is the westernmost representative of genus and one least known E uropean mammals. As currently understood, species contains three isolates on both sides south‐eastern C arpathian M ountains. Our focus was rats from north‐eastern R omania adjacent U kraine, i.e. nominal subspecies Spalax Topachevskii 1976. Phylogenetic reconstruction based 1140‐bp‐long cytochrome b sequence revealed a sister position against N annospalax . Pairwise K imura...

The genus Laticauda (Reptilia: Elapidae), commonly known as sea kraits, comprises eight species of marine amphibious snakes distributed along the shores Western Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean. We review information available on geographic range kraits analyze their distribution patterns. Generally, we found that south south-west Japan, Philippines Archipelago, parts Indonesia, Vanuatu have highest diversity krait species. Further, compiled kraits' occurrences from a variety sources,...

The field survey made in the last 20 years revealed that large areas of Romania's territory are still unexplored concerning moss distribution. long-term research natural and mature spruce forest habitats this country shows many sites well protected, a status is also confirmed by reports Buxbaumia viridis. However, other where species was identified lack legal protection. We generated potential distribution based on an ensemble model, useful guiding extensive surveys management conservation...

The estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is affected by several factors including the cause death, place where body lay after and weather conditions during decomposition. Given climatic differences among biogeographic locations, understanding necrophagous insect species biology ecology required when estimating PMI. current experimental model was developed in Romania warm season an outdoor location. aim study to identify diversity dynamics, detect bacterial present decomposition order...

Abstract The main goal of this study is to get a better insight the habitat requirements for Great- and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers. Woodpeckers are forest specialists, threatened all over Europe mainly by loss habitats also in quality reducing food sources nesting sites. Both species showed strong preference oaks, lime, large trees dead wood nesting, but Woodpecker proved be more selective terms tree species. Nest-height was influenced diameter. have same preferences Turkey oak, lime...

The present study provides the first detailed sound-analysis-based description of male calling song and male–female duet Isophya fatrensis Chládek, an endemic bush-cricket species known from Veľká Fatra, Kremnické vrchy, Nízke Tatry Poľana Mountains in Slovak Western Carpathians. consists a long sequence syllable groups, each composed 2–10 syllables. Intersyllable interval tends to decrease within group. In response song, females emit short acoustic replies during intervals between...

Abstract Necrophagous insect species are widely used during death investigations primarily for the estimation of minimum postmortem interval, since these use decomposing organic matter feeding, oviposition, and larval development. The development stages successional colonization patterns provide important information shorter or longer time intervals. Diptera predominant taxa recovered from decomposed bodies. temperature variance/seasonality is main factor affecting presence activity species....

The Caspian whip snake)( Dolichophis caspius ) occurs at its north-western distribution range limit in Romania, where it is only present the southern part of country, but overall pattern problematic and poorly understood. Here we compiled an updated for species adding 29 new records spread across 25 UTM grids, information collected during 2011 – 2015. We add locations to historic region Moldova fill gaps south-central perhaps more surprisingly intensively surveyed area Dobrogea. a tentative...

The blotched snake (Elaphe sauromates) is one of the most elusive species snakes in Romania, and only a small number individuals have ever been found, which why morphological data are both scarce over half century old. gathered from captured during our field work confirmed presence sexual dimorphism (significant for SVL/TL ratios) presented greater variation than recorded scientific literature. Individuals examined usually had more 2 rows temporal scales displayed subocular scales, as...

The Romanian hamster Mesocricetus newtoni is endemic to South-Eastern Romania (Dobruja region) and North-Eastern Bulgaria, prefers steppic, arid, uncultivated habitats, but also found in alfalfa fields, less often corn cultures field-protecting vegetation belts. Previous studies provide only limited data regarding the diet of this cryptic species. one family group (one female four pups) was monitored for 10 days, during vernal season. collected using camera traps direct observations,...

Alnus riparian communities are important for ecological stability. Data on species were gathered from herbaria and literature, revealing that 54.39% of the information refers to glutinosa, 39.42% incana, 6.18% pubescens. This highlights widespread occurrence A. glutinosa as described in distribution maps, contrasting with more limited range hybrid Principal component analysis (PCA), utilizing standardized factors, was carried out 217 relevés studied species. In these relevés, we identified a...