…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Setting conservation priorities for reptiles and their habitats in the Ukrainian Bessarabia
The availability of reliable maps that depict the historical and current distribution of reptile’s species constitutes an important component in conservation-related research. Many groups of reptiles suffer from direct and indirect anthropogenic impact, particularly as a result of their habitats’ loss and transformation. It means that study of possible ways of their habitats’ conservation is the first reliable step to save reptiles.
The one of the goals of the present study is to provide new data and filling gaps by making updated distribution maps for herpetofauna in the Ukrainian Bessarabia. This area is particularly valuable for local herpetofauna species most of which are protected on national or international level. Ukrainian Bessarabia has more than 2.5 million hectares of agricultural land, including more than 2 million hectares of arable land, more than 80 thousand hectares of vineyards and orchards. Also, tourism through the sea, therapeutic mud, mineral waters, create an exceptionally high recreational potential of Ukrainian Bessarabia. The information collected can be used to find the best solutions for the conservation and protection of fauna of this area. In this project we will assess the current status of most threatened focal reptilian species to assess human impacts on local ecosystems and to promote conservation. For this purpose:
1) we will put main effort to “white spots” in the study region;
2) will collect distributional data of the rare species;
3) will validate ambiguous old records where recent observations are absent.
Also, this territory is several dubious records for some species that very need conservation and it is a corridor for distribution of allochthonous species for Ukraine, that also can be dangerous for the local herpetofauna and need correct management. A better distributional knowledge from this less known region may allow better understanding of overall zoogeography that will be relevant for conservation and other activities useful for European and world herpetology.
Also, we continue our educational activities with the local population as in the previous project. In addition to working with locals and national park staff, we want to focus more on local journalists. From the previous project, we realized that most of the information locals receive from journalists and television. Often journalists are not properly aware of reptiles especially about snakes (incorrect species identification and recommendations). Therefore, the main emphasis in this project will be on the training of local journalists about reptiles with a focus on snakes.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Updates and project results
Published papers: Oskyrko et al. 2022, Oskyrko et al. 2024
Promotional Materials:
Finall paper
Reptiles and their conservation in south-west Ukraine
Knowledge of the spatial distribution of reptiles is essential for decision-making in conservation under future climate change scenarios. We present a new compilation of reptile records for Odesa Oblast (i.e. province), south-west Ukraine. We compiled 662 records: 200 from our own research during 2012–2022, 362 from the published literature, 73 from public databases and 27 from museum collections. Fourteen native species of reptile (one species of Emydidae, four of Lacertidae, one of Anguidae, six of Colubridae and two of Viperidae) have been recorded in Odesa Oblast but the distribution of several are poorly known and/or records have rarely been published. We also report four introduced reptile species (one each of Emydidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae and Anguidae). We present the data in a grid of 462 10 × 10 km cells covering the oblast. In this compilation we did not record any new species, but our records include previously unreported localities for some species. Species richness was highest in the areas along the Black Sea, in protected areas. The main threats to the reptiles in Odesa Oblast are the alteration and degradation of habitats, military action, uncontrolled pressure from infrastructure projects and the presence of invasive species.
Paper here
