Functional zoning of the Sanarsky State Nature Complex Reserve of the Chelyabinsk region by the method of decoding aerial photographs

The article provides data on the Sanarsky nature reserve in the Chelyabinsk region. A map-diagram for the functional zoning of the reserve is proposed. It provides the information on the negative factors affecting the reserve such as forest fires, commercial and hobby hunting, the Chelyabinsk — Magnitogorsk motorway which divides the territory of the reserve into two parts. The analysis of the probable habitat of 10 vertebrate species has been carried out. The article presents a biological description and ecology features of animals listed in the Red Book and living on the territory of the reserve, including one species of amphibians — Siberian salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii Dybowski, 1870), one species of snakes of the genus Copperheads, the family of snakes — smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768), four species of birds, two of the hawk family — the Pale Harrier (Circus macrourus SG Gmelin, 1770) and the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos L., 1758) — the largest eagle and the Owl (Bubo bubo L., 1758) from the owl family; two species from the order bats — Brandt’s Moth (Myotis brandtii Eversmann, 1845) and Woodbat (Pipistrellus nathusii Keyserling & Blasius, 1839); one species of the Lagomorph family — the Steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla) and one species from the Jerboa family — the Great Jerboa (Allactaga major Kerr, 1792). It has been established that within the reserve three functional zones can be distinguished such as a recreation zone, an economic zone, a specially protected zone. On this basis, a map-diagram of the functional zoning of the Sanarsky State Natural Complex Reserve has been developed.

Morphological characteristics of the populations of Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768 (Colubridae, Reptilia) on the northern border of its habitat in Russia

Detailed morphological characteristics of the populations of Coronella austriaca on the northern border of its range, in the Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod regions, are presented. L.corp. of males and females reaches 543 mm and 601 mm, respectively. Ventr. is 166–175 and 175–189, respectively, Scd. Is 50–59 and 32–56, Lab. left/right is usually 7/7 (89.7%), Sublab. is 9/9 (72.4%), respectively. A high incidence of asymmetry (44.4%) was noted for Temp. I and II rows; of 23 combinations, the most common is the symmetric one 2+3/2+3 (25.9%). L.corp./L.cd. limits overlap in 3.1% of underyearlings and yearlings, and in 1.8% of adults. Same-sex individuals statistically significantly differ in their meristic characteristics within the studied regions: the females from a locality near the Chucha river differ from the rest ones in Scd. and Sublab.left., males differ in Scd. and Ventr.+Scd.; males also significantly differ in their metric characteristics L.corp., L.cd., L.total.

Sex chromosome diversification in the smooth snake Coronella austriaca (Reptilia, Serpentes)

The smooth snake Coronella austriaca is a widespread Palearctic colubrid species. The species has been the subject of several molecular and phylogeographic studies which highlighted the occurrence of distinct genetic lineages in different areas of the species distribution, but scarce cytogenetic data are currently available on the species. In this paper we present a molecular and karyological study performed with several banding, staining methods and NOR-FISH on samples of C. austriaca from different geographical areas (Italy and Greece) of the species distribution. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis unambiguously placed the studied samples in different clades with a clear geographical pattern. The karyotype of the two female samples studied was composed of 2n = 36 chromosomes with 16 macro- and 20 microchromosomes and a mix of plesiomorphic and derivate chromosome features. All macrochromosomes were biarmed with the exception of pair 5 that was telocentric. NORs were detected on a microchromosome pair. In both females, the pair 4 was heteromorphic (and completely heterochromatic after C-banding in the Italian female), representing the first report of a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system with female heterogamety in C. austriaca. In addition, the W chromosome showed a different morphology between the two female studied (submetacentric and subtelocentric), highlighting the occurrence of a chromosomal diversification among distinct geographical areas of the species distribution and further supporting that the species contains different diverging evolutionary clades.

Conservation genetics of a wide-ranged temperate snake: same species, different locations, and different behaviour

Even though reptiles are threatened worldwide, few studies address their conservation, especially snakes. The goal of our study was to measure the genetic structure of a widely distributed temperate reptile, the smooth snake Coronella austriaca using eight microsatellite markers in two different areas at the core (Alsace, north-eastern France) and at the edge (Wallonia, southern Belgium) of its range. We sampled 506 individuals in 38 localities (respectively 10 and 28). Analysis of genetic structure conducted with a clustering method detected three clusters in Alsace, one group gathering all populations but two. In Wallonia, differentiation was observed on both sides of the Meuse river and in the Southern Ardenne region (southernmost sampling sites). Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that individuals share parental relationship up to a distance of 2.8 km in Alsace and up to 10 km in Wallonia. Isolation by distance was detected in Wallonia but the distance explained a very limited part of the differentiation (r = 0.033), whereas no isolation-by-distance pattern was detected in Alsace. Even though genetic differentiation between populations separated by large rivers, highways, or crop fields was detected, dispersal between populations seem currently sufficient to avoid any kind of genetic drift in both regions. These results are strongly contrasting with a previous study in England, suggesting sharp local variation of genetic structuring and diversification between location within the same species, probably related to the position in the distribution area and different densities.

Reproduction probabilities and size distributions of the smooth snake Coronella austriaca in the Netherlands and Norway

Whether females participate in reproduction every year or rather skip years is pivotal information for understanding the dynamics of animal populations. In ectotherms this reproduction frequency might depend on factors like temperature, individual size, and prey availability. Here we studied the reproduction rate of the smooth snake Coronella austriaca at two latitudes: in Norway and The Netherlands. Reproductive and morphological data were collected in Norway (34 years) and The Netherlands (5 years). To account for differential resighting probabilities of pregnant and non-pregnant females, we performed multi-state mark-recapture analyses. Reproductive rate, quantified as the probability of participating in reproduction in consecutive years, was calculated for both pregnant and non-pregnant females. The results showed a clear difference in reproductive rate between the two latitudes, with only 15% of pregnant females reproducing again in the following year in Norway versus 93% in The Netherlands. Furthermore, in Norway females grew larger and started reproduction at a higher age. Litter size and juvenile total length and body mass were also significantly higher in Norwegian smooth snakes.

State of herpetofauna of the shelterbelts at different distances from the agrocenoses treated by pesticides

Differences in the herpetofauna of the shelterbelts, which are located at different distances from the fields treated with pesticides, have been studied. It was found that the herpetofauna of artificial forest plantations on the right bank of the Samara River consists of five species: Bufotes viridis, Pelobates vespertinus, Natrix natrix, Coronella austriaca and Lacerta agilis. The grass snake was only found in forest plantations that remote at a distance of 5 kilometres from agrocenoses and could not be treated with pesticides. In the studied areas, two species of snakes (C. austriaca and N. natrix) had the lowest numbers. Amphibians and the sand lizard are the most numerous animals in both groups of shelterbelts. The highest indicator of relative dominance in the herpetofauna of forest belts was observed for the sand lizard, which reflects the greater ecological plasticity of this species. The Renkonen index (more than 90%) showed the similarity of herpetofauna groups of shelterbelts both remote and adjacent to agrocenoses treated by pesticides. The herpetofauna groups of forest belts of both groups had similar indices of dominancy (0.35–0.46), alignment (0.78–0.97) and diversity according to the Shannon (1.07–1.22) and Simpson indices (0.29– 0.35). The lowest indicator of species richness (0.48) is determined for the forest belts adjacent to agrocenoses. Thus, artificial forest plantations that are directly affected by agricultural activities (pesticide use, reduction in food, etc.) can also act as refugia to maintain biodiversity. Nevertheless, this will depend on the amount and duration of pesticide use, so further research is needed for definitive conclusions. Forest belts, which have existed for half a century or more, are a kind of separate ecosystems that can help in understanding various issues of Zoology (fauna and species distribution), Ecology (population dynamics, population structure) and microevolution (processes in new relatively isolated systems).

Reptile Number Observation on the Rostov Nature Reserve Grounds the Middle of 20th Century to 2020

To ascertain the changes in complexes of Reptilia species due to human activities on the Rostov Nature Reserve grounds in the 20th-21st centuries. Research Location and methods: There are 10 Reptilia species that habits observed territory. Starting from the middle of 20th century steppes had huge anthropological changes, which had significant impact on reptiles. The Re-serve creation had positive contribution to reptile group. In this region were preserved species included in Rostov region red book, such as Eremias arguta Pall., Coronella austriaca Laur., Hierophis caspius Gmel., Elaphe sauromates Pall., El. dione Pall. и Vipera renardi Chris. Intensification of agricultural activities in this region in last decade requires improved environmental work.

Cannibalism in smooth snakes, Coronella austriaca

Cannibalism is a widespread behavioural trait in nature and snakes are no exception. In smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) it has only been visibly observed in captive individuals or known from faecal/stomach content analyses. Between 2009 and 2018 one incidence of cannibalism, determined from a faecal sample, and one sighting, were recorded in wild smooth snakes in Wareham Forest plantations, UK. Analysis of faecal samples and visual encounter surveys were used to estimate its frequency. Both records occurred in early autumn and our results suggest that its incidence in wild smooth snakes in southern England is low (0.1-0.3 %) and may be the result of low body condition. The circumstances resulting in cannibalism in the smooth snake may also be relevant to other animal species where cannibalism has been reported.