Climate change threatens the survival of highly endangered Sardinian populations of the snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_7C891E163DC3
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Climate change threatens the survival of highly endangered Sardinian populations of the snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis
Journal
Animal Biology
Author(s)
Bombi Pierluigi, Capula Massimo, D'Amen Manuela, Luiselli Luca
ISSN
1570-7555
ISSN-L
1570-7555
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Volume
61
Number
3
Pages
239-248
Language
english
Notes
ISI:000294511900001
Abstract
Sardinian populations of the snake Hemorrhois (= Coluber) hippocrepis are likely the most endangered populations of snakes in Italy. Major threats to survivorship are the anthropogenic habitat alteration and the extremely low population density, while nothing is known about the potential effects that climate change could exert on this species. The main goal of this paper is to provide helpful instruments for the short- and long-term conservation of H. hippocrepis in Sardinia. By means of an ecological modeling approach, we derived the Sardinian whip snake habitat suitability map, and we compared the potential range extent under present condition and future climatic scenarios. Results clearly show an alarming trend for H. hippocrepis conservation: changing climate conditions will cause a dramatic reduction on suitable surface since 2020, with a further collapse by 2050 (down to 11 km(2)). We also identified areas of species potential persistence up till 2050, where prospective management initiatives could have the greatest probability of success in this region. In particular, only one existing protected area will likely still keep suitable habitats for H. hippocrepis. Therefore, we suggest that very careful management of this relictual area should be implemented by now if we really want to save these exceedingly threatened snake populations.
Keywords
Hemorrhois hippocrepis, ecological modeling, global warming, habitat suitability, long-term persistence, Sardinia
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Create date
24/10/2013 11:10
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:38
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