Literaturdatenbank
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Rhodin, A. G. J., Iskandar, D. T., Kuchling, G., Georges, A., & FitzSimmons, N. (2004). Initiation of a species recovery plan for the critically endangered endemic roti snake-neck turtle (chelodina mccordi rhodin, 1994), roti island, indonesia. phase 1. population status, systematic relationships, and preliminary protected areas assessments Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:25:14 UTC) |
| Resource type: Report/Documentation BibTeX citation key: Rhodin2004 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Australien - Australia, Chelidae, Chelodina mccordi, Habitat - habitat, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises Creators: FitzSimmons, Georges, Iskandar, Kuchling, Rhodin Publisher: Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund |
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| Abstract |
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This project represents the first phase of a new initiative that will lead to a comprehensive conservation program for the long-term survival of the Critically Endangered endemic Roti snake-neck turtle (Chelodina mccordi Rhodin, 1994). This isolated species occurs only on the tiny (1200 sq. km) island of Roti, Indonesia, where it is limited in its distribution to an area of occupancy of less than 100 sq. km. Since its description the species has been targeted by the international pet trade and has been heavily collected in its native habitat where, as a result, after less than 10 years of exploitation it is now considered commercially extinct. Based on this rapid population decline, the IUCN Red List in 2000 classified the species as Critically Endangered. Preliminary field work on Roti has demonstrated that the species occurs in three isolated populations. The largest population (described as C. mccordi) occurs on the central highland plateau in mesic habitat, inhabiting shallow ponds and adjacent rice paddies; two separate and much smaller populations, well-isolated by xeric habitat, occur in the southwestern and northeastern lowlands. At least one of these isolated populations appears to represent a distinct morphotype which may be an undescribed species even more endangered than the highland form. Systematic morphologic and genetic analysis is urgently needed to further delineate the evolutionarily significant diversity of Chelodina taxa present on Roti. Geologically, Roti is an ancient and isolated vicariant splintered fragment from the edge of Gondwanaland without marine sediments, suggesting an extremely ancient isolation of its Australian faunal elements (including its chelid turtle genus Chelodina). Preliminary analysis of its vertebrate fauna suggests a relatively high degree of endemism as a result of this long isolation. This project represents the first phase of a planned comprehensive conservation program leading to an urgently-needed Species Recovery Plan for C. mccordi, focusing first on documenting the distribution and status of the three isolated populations on Roti and performing a systematic analysis of possible diversity using morphology and genetics. At the same time, preliminary scoping surveys of possible protected areas will be undertaken towards the ultimate goal of establishing protected areas for the species, focusing also on other endemic species and distinctive habitats on Roti which may also need protection. Further development of a conservation program for the species will also focus on working with the appropriate conservation and governmental agencies to improve legal protection for the species both in Indonesia and internationally, as well as establishing ex situ assurance colonies in-range in Indonesia for captive breeding and management until in situ protection on Roti achieves its goals of ensuring survival of the species into the future.
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