Aspects concerning the herpetofauna in the city of Bacău (România): urban and peri-urban environments

Herpetologica Romanica Vol. 2, 2008, pp.13-19 Aspects concerning the herpetofauna in the city of Bacău (România): urban and peri-urban environments Daniel GHIURCĂ 1 and Iulian GHERGHEL 2,3 1. Ion Borcea Natural Sciences Museum, Cancicov Park, Bacau, Romania, + 40 234 512006, danielghiurca@gmail.com, 2. Al. I. Cuza University, Faculty of Biology, Carol I Blvd., Nr. 20A, 700506, Iasi, Romania, iuliangherghel@gmail.com 3. Stejarul Biological Research Institute, INCDSB Bucuresti,Alexandru cel Bun Street, 610004, Piatra Neamt, Romania Abstract. Due to the scarce available data about urban populations of amphibians and reptiles in Romania, the authors of the present paper aimed to investigate the distribution and composition of the herpetofauna from the urban and periurban environments from a city from Eastern Romania (the city of Bacău), establish which human activities pose the most serious threat for the herpetofauna, which species are the most vulnerable to human caused ecological stress and which species are the most adaptable when faced with urbanization. 6 species of amphibians (Bombina bombina, Bombina variegata, Pseudepidelea viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelophylax ridibundus and Rana temporaria) and 4 reptile (Emys orbicularis, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta viridis and Natrix natrix) species have been recorded in the research area, as well as Pelophylax kl. esculentus and Bombina bombina X Bombina variegata. The most important herpetofaunal areas are two peri-urban environments. The species that seem to be the most capable to adapt and survive in urban conditions are Pseudopidelea viridis and the species from the Pelophylax esculentus complex, although all species of amphibians and reptiles are threatened in many ways by urbanization. We also discussed some aspects concerning the ecology of this species in close relation with urban environment, protection and threats in the studied environments. Key words: amphibians, reptiles, Bacău, urban and peri-urban environments, urbanization, anthropogenic impact. Introduction Until now, very few studies have been conducted on the composition and ecology of amphibian and reptile species from the urban environments of Romania. Data regarding species records in different towns and cities from Romania can be found in numerous herpetofaunistical papers published during recent years (Ghira et al. 2002, Covaciu-Marcov et al. 2000, 2002, 2003 a, b, c, 2004, 2005a, 2006 a, b, c, Ghiurcă et al. 2005, 2006, Gherghel & Ile 2006, Strugariu et al. 2006 a, b and in press ). Other studies have focused upon feeding biology and ecology of different species of amphibians from urban environments (Covaciu- Marcov et al. 2005 b, Nicoară et al. 2005 a, b, Sas et al. 2005). So far, the only detailed information regarding composition and different ecological aspects of amphibian species from urban environments have been published by Nicoară & Szekely (2004) and Strugariu et al. (2007). In these papers, the authors viewed the situation of the Ciric river basin, situated at the outskirts of the city of Iaşi, respectively the city of Suceava (Romania). In the published paper by Strugariu et al. (2007) are made for the first time recordings concerning some species of reptiles which live in the peri-urban and urban environments from Romania. Habitat loss or deterioration and landscape fragmentation are the leading cause for local population extinctions (Pellet et al 2004). These phenomena are especially present in or near urban areas, where their expansion is directly proportional with economical development (Van Rooy & Stumpel 1995). Taking the above stated into consideration, the authors of the present paper aimed to: i.) investigate the composition and distribution of the herpetofauna in the urban and peri-urban, natural and man-made environments from the city of Bacău; Herpetol. Rom, 2, 2008, Romania

14 Ghiurcă, D. & I. Gherghel ii.) establish which amphibian and/or reptile species are the most threatened by anthropogenic impact and which are the most adaptable in regards to changes in their environment caused by urbanization; iii.) establish which human activities pose the most serious risk for the herpetofauna; iv.) establish which type of environments are the most important refuges for the herpetofauna. Site 5 is placed in the north-eastern side of the city and is represented by Şerbăneşti district, area occupied in majority by houses and fields used for agriculture. The limits of this site are: at east is Siret River, at north is an apple meadow, at south is the locality Letea Veche and at west is the water meadow of Bistriţa River. Site 6 is placed in the northen part of the city and is composed in most part from dwelling houses, an mixed forest at north and has at his eastern limit the Bistriţa River. Study Methods Matherial and methods Study Area The study area is represented by the city of Bacău, which is situated in the east-central sector of Romania, in the eastern side of Oriental Carpathian Mountains. From a hydrographical point of view, it is situated in the Middle Siret river basin, on the most important tributary river of Siret, Bistriţa. From an administrative point of view, it belongs to Bacău County. The maximum altitude in the area is 160 m. The geographic coordinates of the area are 46 36 38 N, 46 33 57 S, 26 44 12 W, 26 47 46 E. The city its self comprises of 6 major districts: the main city, Tache, CFR, Izvoare, Holt, Şerbăneşti and Gherăieşti. The Tache, CFR, Izvoare, Holt, Şerbăneşti and Gherăieşti areas are composed in majority from human houses. The main city aligns from north to south the following districts: Nord, Ştefan cel Mare, Mioriţa, city center, Bistriţa Lac, Tic- Tac, Piaţa Sud, Orizont, Letea, Narcisa, Aeroport. Most of these districts are composed from apartament blocks and the periferical areas of these comprehend houses. For the present study, we have divided the research area (Fig.1), into 6 distinct sites, as follows: Site 1 is peri-urban and represents suburbia of south side of the city Izvoare. It is composed in majority from houses, mixed forests and fields used for agriculture. Site 2 is situated at the western border of the city, at south is the airport and is composed from apartament blocks, the terrains used for agriculture and at north are the districts Tache and CFR, areas occupied in maximum proportion from dwelling houses. Site 3 is the main city area and is occupied in great proportion by apartament blocks, areas with houses and some parks, the greater being Cancicov Park which is placed in the west side of this site. Site 4 is comprised of the Bacău 2 Lake situated on the Bistriţa River and the Holt area which has at their eastern limit the Siret River. This peri-urban site is composed from dwelling houses and fields used for agriculture. The study was conducted during 2000-2007, in each year from February to October. In the majority of cases, the animals were directly observed, but some specimens were captured by hand and subsequently released. The hybrids were determined by their morphological and chromatic characteristics, the determination being made after main features and measurements indicated in the scientific literature (Fuhn 1960, Berger 1966, 1973, Stugren 1980, Szymura 1993, Csata 1998, Cogălniceanu et al. 2000, Ghira & Mara 2000). Some amphibian species were identified by examining captured larva. Results The results of our study have revealed the presence of 6 amphibian (Bombina bombina, Bombina variegata, Pseudepidelea viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelophylax ridibundus and Rana temporaria) and 4 reptile (Emys orbicularis, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta viridis and Natrix natrix) species in the research area. We have also identified Pelophylax kl. esculentus and hybrids between Bombina bombina and Bombina variegata. Bombina bombina Linnaues 1761 is a rare species in the area, being present only in Site 5. Bombina variegata Linnaeus 1758 is, again, a rare species in the area, being present only in Site 5. Bombina bombina X Bombina variegata Hybrids between the two native species of the genus Bombina appear only in Site 5. Pseudepidelea viridis Laurentus 1768 has been recorded by us in completely urban locations, in large numbers. At the moment, it appears to be one of the most common species and the most successful in regards to its capability to adapt to changes in its environment. Even so, we consider that the species is very vulnerable due to the fact that we were able

Aspects concerning the herpetofauna in the city of Bacău (România) 15 to identify only in a few artificial breeding pools which are used by this species, in Sites 2 and 3. Hyla arborea Linnaeus 1758 is relatively common in the peri-urban environments. It has been recorded at Sites 4, 5 and 6. This species was found, also, in a few artificial pools from Cancicov Park, park which is placed in the main city. Pelophylax kl. esculentus Linnaeus 1758 has been recorded in Site 1 3, 4, 5 and 6, joining the Pelophylax ridibundus species. Pelophylax ridibundus Linnaeus 1758 is very common in the peri-urban areas, as well as in urban locations. Rana temporaria Linnaeus 1758 is a rare species in the area, being present only in Site 5. Emys orbicularis Linnaeus 1758 is a rare species, being recorded only at Site 4 and Site 5. Very few individuals were recorded and this species seems to be locally critically endangered. Figure 1. The investigated urban and peri-urban environments from Bacău City

16 Ghiurcă, D. & I. Gherghel Table 1. The types of environments inhabited by the amphibian and reptile species in Bacău city Species Presence Habitat Constant Sporadic Urban Peri-urban Bombina bombina - + - + Bombina variegata - + - + Bombina bombina x Bombina variegata - + - + Pseudepidelea viridis + - + - Hyla arborea + - + + Pelophylax kl. esculentus + - - + Pelophylax ridibundus + - - + Rana temporaria - + - + Emys orbicularis + - - + Lacerta agilis + - + + Lacerta viridis - + - + Natrix natrix + - - + Table 2. The presence of the species in peri-urban and urban areas from Bacău city Species / Habitat Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Bombina bombina - - - - + - Bombina variegata - - - - + - Bombina bombina x Bombina variegata - - - - + - Pseudepidelea viridis - + + - - - Hyla arborea - - + + + + Pelophylax kl. esculentus + - + + + + Pelophylax ridibundus + - + + + + Rana temporaria - - - - + - Emys orbicularis - - - + + + Lacerta agilis + + + + + + Lacerta viridis - + - - + + Natrix natrix + - - + + + Lacerta agilis Linnaeus 1758 is the most common species of reptile in the area, being recorded by us in all 6 sites. Lacerta viridis Laurentus 1768 is a rare species, being observed in small numbers. Natrix natrix Linnaeus 1758 is a relatively common species, being present in great number in peri-urban studied areas. Disscusion In our study we didn t identify any of the newt species, the absence of the breeding pools being the most important factor of this deficiency. The artificial pools and the pools formed in some regions of the city are occupied mostly by the species Pseudepidalea viridis, all the other species occurring mostly accidentally in them.

Aspects concerning the herpetofauna in the city of Bacău (România) 17 Also, our study indicates that the diversity and abundance of the herpetofauna increases in direct proportion with the distance from urban areas. In some parts of Romania, some aspects of urbanization seem to be in favor of the herpetofauna. Therefore, railroad embankments, for example, have offered a suitable habitat for Podarcis muralis in North-Western Romania (Covaciu- Marcov et al. 2006c), for Lacerta viridis, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix and Vipera berus near Iasi (Strugariu Al., unpublished data) and for Lacerta trilineata near the city of Tulcea (Fuhn, 1969). In this situation is the species Lacerta agilis which found favorable condition near rairoads in some areas of the Bacău city (Izvoare, Aeroport and CFR). The most important area for the herpetofauna is represented by Site 5 (Şerbăneşti Bistriţa Water Meadow). 100,00% 91,66% 80,00% 60,00% 40,00% 33,33% 25% 41,66% 50% 58% 20,00% 0,00% Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Figure 2. The percentage of amphibian and reptile species present in the 6 investigated sites Being that most large Romanian cities are expanding due to economical development, natural landscapes from the cities will become urban and most probably be destroyed. Because of this, it is the authors opinion, that studies concerning the precise composition and distribution of the herpetofauna in urban and peri-urban environments should be made and taken into consideration during urbanization planning, in order to protect the areas most important for the herpetofauna. This is especially important due to the fact that several species of the native herpetofauna are considered to be vulnerable and endangered (Iftime 2001, 2005) and are strictly protected by Law Number 13/1993 (Cogălniceanu et al. 2000). Recently, Bombina bombina, Bombina variegata and Emys orbicularis have been specified in Annex 2 of the Order number 1198 from 25/11/2005, being species that require protection trough the establishment of special areas for conservation. References Berger, L. (1966): Biometrical studies on the population of water frog from the environs of Poznan. Ann. Zool. 23: 303 324 Berger L. (1973): Systematics and hybridization in European green frogs of Rana esculenta Complex. Journal of Herpetology 7: 1 10 Cogălniceanu D., Aioanei F., Bogdan M. (2000): Amfibienii din România, Determinator. Bucureşti, Ed. Ars Docendi: 1-99

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Aspects concerning the herpetofauna in the city of Bacău (România) 19 Strugariu, Al., Gherghel, I., Huţuleac Volosciuc, M. V., Puşcaşu, C.M. (2007): Preliminary aspects concerning the herpetofauna from urban and peri-urban environments from North- Eastern Romania: a case study in the city of Suceava. Herpetologica Romanica 1: 53-61. Szymura, J. M.. (1993): Analysis of hybrid zones with Bombina. In: R. G. Harrison (ed.) :Hibrid zones and the evolutionary process. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 261 289. Van Rooy, P. T. J. C., Stumpel, A. H. P. (1995): Ecological impact of ecological development on sardinian herpetofauna. Conservation Biology 9 (2): 263-269. ***** Legea 462/2001 privind regimul ariilor naturale protejate, conservarea habitatelor naturale, a florei şi faunei sălbatice; ***** Ordin Nr. 1198 din 25/11/2005, publicat în Monitorul Oficial, Partea I nr. 1097 din 6/12/2005. ANEXA nr. 2: Specii de plante şi animale a căror conservare necesită desemnarea ariilor speciale de conservare şi a ariilor de protecţie avifaunistică.