Loss of largest and oldest individuals of the Montpellier snake correlates with recent warming in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula

The effects of climate change on organisms are now being extensively studied in many different taxa. However, the variation in body size, usually shrinkage in response to increasing temperature, has received little attention regarding to reptiles. During past periods of global warming, many organisms shrank in size, and current evidence and experiments manipulating temperature have shown a biomass decrease in some organisms with increasing temperatures. Here we test whether the body size of the Montpellier snake Malpolon monspessulanus from the southeastern Iberian Peninsula is changing and correlated with the increasing temperature in this region during a 39year period (1976–2014). We measured the snout–vent length (SVL) of vouchers in scientific collections to check for trends in adult body size at the population level in relation with temperature, while controlling for the age of the individuals (estimated by skeletochronology, n¼141). Given the great ontogenetic variation in body size of the study species, we categorized age in 3 classes: “young adults” (under 5 years old), “intermediate adults” (from 5 to 7 years old), and “old adults” (from 8 to 14 years old). By means of linear mixed models, we found a negative relationship between SVL of “old adults” and average annual temperature in the region during the lifetime of each individual. Our results indicate that largest and oldest individuals of the Montpellier Snake, that is, males because of strong sexual size dimorphism in this species, disappeared from the study population, and suggest that it occurred in response to rising environmental temperature.Junta de Andalucía RNM-25

The fall of a symbol? A high predation rate by the introduced horseshoe whip snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis paints a bleak future for the endemic Ibiza wall lizard Podarcis pityusensis

Invasive species currently account for a major threat to global biodiversity, and island ecosystems are among the most vulnerable, because of the frequency and success of species introductions on islands. Within Mediterranean islands, reptiles not only are frequently introduced species but are also among the most threatened because of these introductions. The Balearic archipelago is a good example of this, since only two of its current 16 species of reptiles are native. Thirteen years ago, the snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis was introduced by cargo in Ibiza island, and it is in expansion. Individuals obtained from an early eradication campaign showed a fast expression of phenotypic plasticity and acquired larger sizes than those of the source population, probably due to a high prey availability and predator scarcity. The species is thriving at the expense of a small variety of native and non-native prey, but the predation pressure on the endemic Podarcis pityusensis, the only native reptile in the island, is very high, as this lizard represents 56% of the prey in frequency, which might threaten its survival on the long term. Our results on the feeding ecology of the snake are of sufficient concern to justify the maintenance of actions to eradicate this invader.Peer reviewe

Correlates between morphology, diet and foraging mode in the Ladder Snake Rhinechis scalaris (Schinz, 1822)

In many vertebrates, foraging mode (active versus sit-and-wait) is tied to some traits of their natural history such as morphology, type of prey, rate of food acquisition, and survival rate. We explore the correlates between some morphological traits of a Mediterranean colubrid and its feeding ecology and the predation risk, by comparing data on teeth number, tail damage, and diet. A large sample (n = 368) of the Ladder Snake, Rhinechis scalaris is used. The species feeds almost exclusively on endotherms, mainly mammals (nearly 95% of the diet in mass), which set R. scalaris among the most stenophagous snakes in the western Palaearctic. There is also a high percentage of motionless prey in the diet (up to 50% in prey mass), such as nestling birds, mammals and bird eggs. The species is so canalised to a diet based on endotherms that it does not follow the general rule in medium-sized snakes of an ontogenetic dietary shift from ectothermic to endothermic prey; juveniles consumed the smallest endothermic animals: nestling small-mammals. The number of maxillary teeth (mean 15.1), the lowest within the former and large genus Elaphe, is likely related to its trophic specialization. Rhinechis scalaris also faces an elevated risk of predation, something general in active searcher snakes compared to ambush foragers, as revealed by many individuals with damaged tails (19.9%), the highest within the Iberian community of snakes. We conclude from indirect evidence (high predation on stationary prey, many individuals with damaged tails) that the species is an active searcher and that this foraging mode influences other natural-history traits (i.e. reproductive habits).The last stage of this study was supported by the Research Award REN2000-1376 GLO of the Spanish MCYT to the senior author and to MF

Where are you from, stranger? The enigmatic biogeography of North African pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) .

Abstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a Nearctic element in the African fauna and thought to have invaded North Africa from the Iberian Peninsula. All North African populations are currently identified with the subspecies E. o. occidentalis. However, a nearly range-wide sampling in North Africa used for analyses of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA provides evidence that only Moroccan populations belong to this taxon, while eastern Algerian and Tunisian pond turtles represent an undescribed distinct subspecies. These two taxa are most closely related to E. o. galloitalica with a native distribution along the Mediterranean coast of northern Spain through southern France to western and southern Italy. This group is sister to a clade comprising several mitochondrial lineages and subspecies of E. orbicularis from Central and Eastern Europe plus Asia, and the successive sisters are E. o. hellenica and E. trinacris. Our results suggest that E. orbicularis has been present in North Africa longer than on the Iberian Peninsula and that after an initial invasion of North Africa by pond turtles from an unknown European source region, there was a phase of diversification in North Africa, followed by a later re-invasion of Europe by one of the African lineages. The differentiation of pond turtles in North Africa parallels a general phylogeographic paradigm in amphibians and reptiles, with deeply divergent lineages in the western and eastern Maghreb. Acknowledging their genetic similarity, we propose to synonymize the previously recognized Iberian subspecies E. o. fritzjuergenobsti with E. o. occidentalis sensu stricto. The seriously imperiled Moroccan populations of E. o. occidentalis represent two Management Units different in mitochondrial haplotypes and microsatellite markers. The conservation status of eastern Algerian pond turtles is unclear, while Tunisian populations are endangered. Considering that Algerian and Tunisian pond turtles represent an endemic taxon, their situation throughout the historical range should be surveyed to establish a basis for conservation measures

Rapid acquisition of antipredatory responses to new predators by an insular lizard

[EN] Alien predators may impose a great threat to naïve prey. Ibiza wall lizards (Podarcis pityusensis) live in Ibiza, a snake-free island until 2003. We studied the lizards’ discrimination of scents of two invader snakes: one that depredates lizards, the horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis), and another that does not, the ladder snake (Rhinechis scalaris). We compared two populations of Ibiza wall lizards: one from the main island of Ibiza, which coexists with both snakes, and another from the nearby snake-free islet of Sal Rossa. Lizards from Ibiza recognized the scent of the horseshoe whip snake and responded with clear antipredatory behaviours. However, they reacted to the scent of the ladder snake similarly to that of the controls (odourless control and pungent scent). Lizards from Sal Rossa did not respond to any of the snakes or the controls. Our results show that lizards can rapidly acquire the ability to react to a novel predator. As only about ten generations of lizards have coexisted with snakes, the most plausible explanation to our results is that lizards have learned to associate the scent of the predatory snake with a threat. This is the first study reporting the rapid acquisition of lizards’ antipredatory responses to the chemical cues of novel predators. However, more research is needed in order to identify the mechanisms implicated in the responseSIThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project CGL2012-39850-CO2-02) and the University of Salamanca (predoctoral grants to AM and ZO

Identificação de fatores determinantes que influenciam o atropelamento de serpentes no sul de Portugal

O impacto das rodovias é bastante marcado ao nível da fauna vertebrada terrestre, sendo comum encontrar serpentes atropeladas. Com base num registo diário de 2 anos analisaram-se padrões espaciais no atropelamento de serpentes em quatro troços de estradas ao longo de 50.6 km. Os dados de atropelamento foram analisados ao nível da comunidade de serpentes e das espécies principais. O maior atropelamento da comunidade de serpentes e de Rhinechis scalaris ficou assim associado a maior cobertura de Montado, enquanto a cobertura arbustiva foi então associada a uma menor probabilidade de atropelamentos. A rugosidade do terreno e os terrenos agrícolas revelaram-se também importantes no padrão de atropelamento até valores intermédios. Hemorrhois hippocrepis estava fortemente ligada às áreas influenciadas pelas atividades humanas, enquanto que Natrix maura atropeladas foram associadas à proximidade de charcos. Além disso, evidenciou-se um maior risco de atropelamento em estradas nacionais do que em estradas municipais. Assim, demonstrou-se a importância de considerar elementos paisagísticos para melhor compreender o atropelamento de serpentes; ABSTRACT: “Identifying key factors that impact snake roadkill in southern Portugal” The impact of roads is a serious issue among terrestrial vertebrate fauna, in fact snakes are frequently found dead on roads. To analyse snake roadkill spatial patterns, roadkill data was collected over a 2 year period from 4 road stretches that are 50.6 km long. The data was analysed at the snake community and species level. Snake community and Rhinechis scalaris roadkill were associated to Montado cover, while shrub cover lowered the chance of roadkill. Terrain roughness and agricultural land were also an important roadkill feature occurring up to intermediate levels. Increased Hemorrhois hippocrepis roadkill was highly associated to human influenced areas, while Natrix maura roadkill was strongly linked to the proximity of water sources. The risk of snake roadkill was higher in national roads than in municipal roads. In brief, taking into account landscape factors seems to be an important step to improve our understanding on snake roadkill

Diversity, distribution and conservation of land mammals in Mauritania, North-West Africa

Funding: National Geographic Society (CRE-7629- 04, CRE-8412-08, GEFNE-53-12, NGS-53336R- 19), Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (11052709, 11052707, 13257467), Rufford Foundation (SG-15399-1, SG-36007-1), Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PTDC/BIA-BEC/ 099934/2008, PTDC/BIA-BIC/118624/2010, PTDC/ BIA-BIC/2903/2012, PTDC/BIA-ECO/28158/2017), FEDER-Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE (FCOMP-01- 0124-FEDER-008917/028276). Individual support was given by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (CEECINST/00014/2018/CP1512/CT0001, SFRH/ 2020.05054.BD, DL57/2016/CP1440/CT0010, DL57/2016/CP1440/CT0008, DL57/2016/CP1440/ CT[SFRH/BPD/88496/2012], CEECIND/01937/ 2017, SFRH/BPD/84822/2012). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Work supported by National Funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia in the scope of the project UIDB/50027/ 2020.Detailed knowledge about biodiversity distribution is critical for monitoring the biological effects of global change processes. Biodiversity knowledge gaps hamper the monitoring of conservation trends and they are especially evident in the desert biome. Mauritania constitutes a remarkable example on how remoteness and regional insecurity affect current knowledge gaps. Mammals remain one of the least studied groups in this country, without a concerted species checklist, the mapping of regions concentrating mammal diversity, or a national assessment of their conservation status. This work assessed the diversity, distribution, and conservation of land mammals in Mauritania. A total of 6,718 published and original observations were assembled in a spatial database and used to update the occurrence status, distribution area, and conservation status. The updated taxonomic list comprises 107 species, including 93 extant, 12 Regionally Extinct, and 2 Extinct in the Wild. Mapping of species distributions allowed locating concentrations of extant mammal species richness in coastal areas, along the Senegal River valley, and in mountain plateaus. Recent regional extinction of large-sized Artiodactyla and Carnivora has been very high (11% extinct species). From the extant mammals, 11% are threatened, including flagship species (e.g., Addax nasomaculatus and Panthera pardus). Species richness is poorly represented by the current protected areas. Despite the strong advances made, 23% of species categorise as Data Deficient. Persisting systematics and distribution uncertainties require further research. Field surveys in currently unexplored areas (northern and south-eastern regions) are urgently needed to increase knowledge about threatened mammals. The long-term conservation of land mammals in Mauritania is embedded in a complex web of socioeconomic and environmental factors that call for collaborative action and investment in sustainable human development. The current work sets the baseline for the future development of detailed research studies and to address the general challenges faced by mammals and biodiversity in the country.National Geographic Society (CRE-7629- 04, CRE-8412-08, GEFNE-53-12, NGS-53336R- 19)Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (11052709, 11052707, 13257467)Rufford Foundation (SG-15399-1, SG-36007-1)Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PTDC/BIA-BEC/ 099934/2008, PTDC/BIA-BIC/118624/2010, PTDC/ BIA-BIC/2903/2012, PTDC/BIA-ECO/28158/2017)FEDER-Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE (FCOMP-01- 0124-FEDER-008917/028276)Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (CEECINST/00014/2018/CP1512/CT0001, SFRH/ 2020.05054.BD, DL57/2016/CP1440/CT0010, DL57/2016/CP1440/CT0008, DL57/2016/CP1440/ CT[SFRH/BPD/88496/2012], CEECIND/01937/ 2017, SFRH/BPD/84822/2012)National Funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia in the scope of the project UIDB/50027/ 202