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1 This article was downloaded by: [ ] On: 22 March 2014, At: 05:36 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: Registered office: Mortimer House, Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Italian Journal of Zoology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: Introduction: a monitoring project on threatened Italian amphibians and reptiles Marco A. Bologna a a Dipartimemo di Biologia, Università Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, I-00146, Roma, Italy Published online: 19 May To cite this article: Marco A. Bologna (2004) Introduction: a monitoring project on threatened Italian amphibians and reptiles, Italian Journal of Zoology, 71:S1, 3-8, DOI: / To link to this article: PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the Content ) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

2 Ital. J. Zool., 71, Suppl (2004) Introduction: a monitoring project on threatened Italian amphibians and reptiles MARCO A. BOLOGNA Dipartimemo di Biologia, Universitä Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, Roma (Italy) .' Mogna@uniroma3.it KEY WORDS: Conservation project. INTRODUCTION The conservation of biodiversity represents one of the main targets of mankind in the next millennium, as declared by the Convention of Rio de Janeiro (1992). The impoverishment and degradation of natural ecosystems and the extinction of animal and plant species is a terrible threat, common to both temperate and tropical regions, both in rich and poor nations. The conservation strategies include activities devoted to the maintenance of ecosystems and communities, which need to be supported by a continuous improvement of our knowledge on distribution and ecology of the species. In accordance with international and national legal frameworks, in particular the EC Directive on Birds, the Berne Convention, the EC Habitats Directive and the relative Italian regulations, the Italian Ministry of the Environment has carried out a wide-ranging programme of conservation activities. This programme basically includes the implementation of faunistic and ecological databases on Italian fauna. A new, and more advanced target of this programme is to monitor the conservation status of Italian populations of several threatened animals species. In the last thirty years, a large number of amphibian and reptile populations have rapidly decreased throughout the world. This dramatic depletion of animal life also regards Italian fauna, as supported by recent investigations carried out at both national and local levels (e.g. Andreone, 1992; Capula & Luiselli, 1992; Chelazzi et al., 1999; Filippi & Luiselli, 2000; Scoccianti, 2001). According to the IUCN criteria, 28 amphibian species out of 37 fauna species (76%) were included in the Red Book of the Threatened Italian Species of Vertebrates (Bulgarini et al., 1998). Sixteen amphibian species are considered either critical (CR), endangered (EN) or vulnerable (VU); in some cases, only at a population level. Similarly, 69 per cent of Italian reptile species (34 out of 49 species) are considered threatened. During the 20th century, two endemic subspecies of lizards became extinct (EX) in Italy: Podarcis muralis insulanica (Bedriaga, 1881), endemic to Pianosa Island (Tuscany Archipelago), probably extinguished between 1912 and 1970, and P. sicula sanctistephani Mertens, 1926, endemic to Santo Stefano island (Pontine Islands). Another lizard, P. raffonei Mertens, 1952, endemic to the Aeolian Islands, is one of the most endangered vertebrates of Italian fauna (Capula et al., 2002). Probably the extinction or the extreme reduction of these lizards is due to competition with other introduced species of Podarcis. These events show the extreme risk facing every isolated amphibian or reptile population living under conditions of geographical or ecological insularity. Even though these vertebrates cause diffidence, repulsion or fear in some people, they represent a very important component of ecosystems, either as prey or predators. Consequently, a policy of protection an management of amphibians and reptiles has priority in our coun-

3 M. A. BOLOGNA Fig. 1 - Salamandra lanzai(photo F. Andreone). Fig. 2 - Trilnrus italicus (Photo A. Venclii). Fig. 3 - Proteus anguinus (Photo N. Bressi). Fig. 4 - Pelobates fuscus insubricus (Photo P. E. Bergö). Fig. S - Pelodytespunctatus (Photo M. Bologna). Fig. 6 - Bombina variegatapachypiis (Photo L. Vignoli).

4 INTRODUCTION TO A MONITORING PROJECT 5 Fig. 7 - Sana Icilaslei (Pholo A. Venchi). Fig. 8 - Testudo hermanni (Photo P. Bombi). Fig. 9 - F.mys orbicularis(photo L. Vignoli). Fig Cyrtodapodion kotsckyi (Phoio M. Dura). Fig, 11 - Algyroides uigropunctattts (Photo N. Bressi» Fig lacerta ctgilisiphoto M. Bologna).

5 M. A. BOLOGNA w Fig Timon lepidus (X'holo U. Macale). Fig Iberolacerta horvathi (Photo L. Luiselli). Fig Archaelocerta bedriagae (Photo L. Vignoli). Fig Podarcisfllfolensis (Photo M. Capula). Fig Podarcis raffonei (Photo M. Capula). Fig Vipern ursinii (Photo M. Capula).

6 INTRODUCTION TO A MONITORING PROJECT 7 try because these animals seem most likely to risk reduction or extinction among vertebrates. Most of the species occurring in Italy have a sufficient conservation status in other countries, but several Italian populations are threatened or have a very limited distribution, and consequently need to be carefully monitored. To develop a monitoring programme at a population level, the Ministry of the Environment enthusiastically accepted (November 1999) a project proposed by the Department of Biology of the Roma Tre University, co-ordinated by the author. This project is divided into two phases, each on a different set of species ("Progetto di monitoraggio dello stato di conservazione di Anfibi e Rettili della fauna italiana particolarmente a rischio"). The Habitats Directive also provided the elaboration of guidelines for monitoring species, and consequently this target was included in the project. An official agreement between the Ministry and the Roma Tre University, and a suitable grant have supported the project. Moreover, the species considered in the programme are not all included in the Habitats Directive. According to previous general data, the Italian populations of some greatly threatened species were selected. Populations of other species will be studied in the second phase of the project. The major novelty of this project is the implementation of faunistic studies with demographic data such as population density and age structure, in order to assess the conservation status of some sample populations. Statistical techniques and genetic studies were carried out on isolated populations to estimate the risk of variability loss. The first group of examined taxa includes either all or only some of the populations of 10 amphibian species: Salamandra lanzai, S. salamandra (only the Latium and Abruzzo populations), Triturus italicus, T. alpestris (only the marginal or relict populations of Ligurian Alps, Laga Mountains, and Catena Costiera), Speleomantes italicus (only the Marche and Abruzzo populations), Proteus anguinus, Pelobates fuscus, Pelodytes punctatus, Bombina variegata complex, Rana latastei. Populations of 11 reptile species were also examined: Testudo hermanni, Etnys orbicularis, Cyrtopodion kotsckyi, Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta agilis, Titnon lepidus, Iberolacerta horvathi, Archaeolacerta bedriagae, Podarcis filfolensis, P. raffonei, Vipera ursinii. Several new localities were discovered for many species during the project, greatly increasing the scarce information available on some uncommon species, such as Pelodytes punctatus or Titnon lepidus. A detailed demographic evaluation was elaborated for populations of other taxa such as Salamandra lanzai or Podarcis filfolensis. Genetic studies were carried out on some species such as Archaeolacerta bedriagae or Podarcis raffonei, using both allozymes and mtdna, and other species were also tested. The following was produced for each species: (a) a georeferenced faunistic database of known populations, including the newly discovered ones and those apparently extinct in the last 20 years; (b) a statistical analysis of habitat preferences (habitat choice by using Corine Land Cover III or IV levels; altitudinal range; associated species of amphibians and reptiles); (c) a statistical study of auto-ecological aspects (phenology, breeding activity, dormance, dispersion liability, etc.). Moreover, detailed demographic parameters (number, sex ratio, young/adult rate, etc.) of 3 amphibians {Salamandra lanzai, Pelobates fuscus, Pelodytes punctatus) and 4 reptiles {Podarcis raffonei, P. filfolensis, Lacerta agilis, Timon lepidus), were calculated using capture/re-capture or transect methods, and general demographic information on other species was gathered; (d) a definition of the main factors adverse to populations and specific monitoring guidelines were provided. A synthesis of this project was presented as a talk in December 2001, during a meeting organised by the Ministry of the Environment (Bologna, in press). A large team of herpetologists carried out the research for this project, co-ordinated by the author. In some cases, they extended studies previously started but incomplete due to lack of funds. This project also stimulated investigations on some almost unknown species and allowed many university students to carry out research activities. The following herpetologists, working in several Italian Universities, Museums or other research Institutes, were directly involved in the project both in the field and laboratory work: Franco Andreone (Turin), Francesco Barbieri (Pavia: who recently died and to whom this volume is dedicated), Franco Bernini (Pavia), Paolo Bergd (Turin), Marco A. Bologna (Rome), Pierluigi Bombi (Rome), S. Bovero (Turin), Nicola Bressi (Trieste), Massimo Capula (Rome), Marco Carafa (L'Aquila), Andrea dall'asta (Udine), Ivan Di Giä (Turin), Stefano Doglio (Turin), Luca Fornasari (Milan), Patrick Gautier (Le Bourget du Lac), E. Gazzaniga (Turin), Fabio Guarino (Naples), Luca Lamagni (Savona), Luca Lapini (Udine), Marco Lebboroni (Florence), Luca Luiselli (Rome), Carla Marangoni (Rome), Mario Marconi (Camerino, MC), Paolo Mariottini (Rome), Stefano Mazzotti (Ferrara), Claude Miaud (Le Bourget du Lac), Orfeo Picariello (Naples), Alexandre Riberon (Toulouse), Sebastiano Salvidio (Genoa), Riccardo Scalera (Rome), Giovanni Scillitani (Bari), Roberto Sindaco (Turin), Patrick Stocco (Turin), Sandro Tripepi (Cosenza), Alberto Venchi (Rome), Leonardo Vignoli (Rome), Marco A. L. Zuffi (Pisa). Other zoologists who collaborated in the field are acknowledged in each contribution. The present volume is divided in two parts. The first, strictly scientific, publishes the faunistic, ecological and genetic results that emerged from the research on the examined species. This part of the volume also includes three general contributions on conservation problems and strategies, and the Italian legal framework regarding amphibians and reptiles. Seven papers concern amphibians and twelve papers reptiles. The second part of the volume is aimed at promoting the conservation strategies pointed out by the Habitats Directive and other international, national or regional laws. For this reason it includes a proposal of detailed

7 8 M. A. BOLOGNA guidelines for monitoring threatened species. This part is intended as a handbook, elaborated by herpetologists and the result of scientific research, useful to local administrators in the management of amphibian and reptiles into the SCI and SPA areas, parks and reserves, as well as throughout the country. The final consideration is that correct wildlife management needs the scientific direction of specialists and the adoption of ecological criteria in order to preserve both biodiversity and ecosystems integrity. REFERENCES Andreone F., Valutazione e categorizzazione dello status della batracofauna (Amphibia) in Piemonte e Valle d'aosta. Quad. Civ. Staz. Idrobiol. Milano, 19: Bologna M. A., Monitoraggio dello stato di conservazione di anfibi e rettili della fauna italiana particolarmente a rischio. In: C. Blasi, S. D"Antoni, E. Dupre, A. La Posta (eds), Atti del Convegno "La conoscenza botanica e zoologica in Italia. Dagli inventari al monitoraggio". Quad. Cons. Natura, 18, Ministero dell'ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio. Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, Roma, in press. Bulgarini F., Calvario E., Fraticelli F., Petretti F., Sarrocco S. (eds), Libro rosso degli animali d'ltalia - Vertebrati. WWF Italia, Roma. Capula M., Luiselli L., Ecosistemi nontani e batracaofauna minacciata: indicazioni e rilievi sugli anfibi dellappennino centrale. Quad. Civ. Staz. Idrobiol, Milano, 19: Capula M., Luiselli L., Bologna M. A., Ceccarelli A., The decline of the Aeolian wall lizard, Podarcis raffonei: causes and conservation proposals. Oryx, 36: Chelazzi G Lebboroni M., Tripepi S., Utzeri C, Zuffi M. A. L-, A primer on the conservation biology of the European pond turtle, F.mys orbicularis. of Italy. Proc. II Symp. Etnys orbicularis. Cheloni 2. Blanc, Breune, pp Filippi E., Luiselli L., Status of the snake fauna and assessment of conservation threats. Biol. Conserv., 93: Scoccianti C, Amphibia: aspetti di ecologia della conservazione. Provincia di Firenze, Assessorato Agricoltura Caccia e Pesca, Assessorato Viabilitä e Trasporti.