Literaturdatenbank
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Santos Santiró, X., & Badiane, A. , Effects of repeated-fire regimes on the hermann’s tortoise testudo hermanni and on the reptile communities at the albera range (northeastern iberia). Unpublished paper presented at XII Congresso Luso Espanhol de Herpetologia.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:23:08 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: SantosSantir2012 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Habitat - habitat, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Südwesteuropa - South-Western Europa, Testudinidae, Testudo hermanni Creators: Badiane, Santos Santiró Collection: XII Congresso Luso Espanhol de Herpetologia |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Testudo hermanni Wildfires are common disturbances in the Mediterranean basin that have a major impact on ecosystems. Recent decades have seen an increase in wildfire frequency and extension due to the combined effects of climate change and land-use history. Although reptiles are ectotherms and a positive response is expected for much Mediterranean species, recent studies demonstrate that reptile species may vary their responses according to their particular habitat preferences (e.g. extent of canopy and bare ground). We have studied the taxonomic response of the reptile community and especially of the Hermann’s tortoise to repeated fires in the Albera Range (Northeast Iberia). In the spring of 2012, we sampled reptiles in forested areas with two types of fire regime: unburnt and repeatedly burnt transects. After decades of fire history, repeated-fire regimes increased the contrast in vegetation and groundcover structure between burnt and unburnt areas. In parallel, we observed contrasted responses within reptile species as some species decreased and others increased after fire. We also observed that fire has damaged the Hermann’s tortoise population, although its distribution is largely explained by others historical factors and not only fire. The increase in fire frequency and extension suggests a future scenario of extinction for those species negatively impacted by fire such as the Hermann’s tortoise which maintains in the study area one of the last natural populations within the Western Mediterranean.
Added by: Admin |