scholarly journals Eaten or beaten? Severe population decline of the invasive lizard Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) after an eradication project in Athens, Greece

Herpetozoa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 165-169
Author(s):  
Chloe Adamopoulou ◽  
Panayiotis Pafilis
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard ◽  
Established Population

Invasive species have been recognised as an important hazard to native communities. Amongst the mitigation measures that have been proposed to confront biological invasions, eradication projects are certainly the most drastic. In this short communication, a successful eradication project against a recently established population of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcissiculus) in Athens, Greece, is reported. To this aim, the Hellenic Herpetological Society received unforeseen aid from stray cats and, possibly, from the Οcellated skink (Chalcidesocellatus) and vegetation growth. Within three years, the initial thriving P.siculus population has shrunk to very few individuals.

Four Cases of Complete Melanistic Italian Wall Lizard [Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810)] in Southern Italy and Sicily Island

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Reina ◽  
Filippo Spadola ◽  
Manuel Morici ◽  
Paola Sgroi ◽  
Antonino Marcianò
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard

scholarly journals Biological responses in pesticide exposed lizards (Podarcis siculus)

Ecotoxicology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Simbula ◽  
Ginevra Moltedo ◽  
Barbara Catalano ◽  
Giacomo Martuccio ◽  
Claudia Sebbio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Biotransformation Enzymes ◽  
Biological Responses ◽  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard ◽  
Detoxification Process ◽  
Accurate Quantification

AbstractThe release of contaminants as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides into the environment has been listed as one of the six major contributors to the global decline of reptiles. Although reptiles may face severe risk from contaminants due to their ecology and physiology, they are currently less studied than other vertebrate groups. In the present work, we investigated if and how different types of field treatment (conventional and organic) affected the health status of Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) individuals in central Italy. We chose a multi-biomarker approach that evaluated the biological responses of lizards to the treatment by means of AChE activity in the nervous system, biotransformation enzymes activities and oxidative stress in the liver, micronuclei frequency measured in the erythrocytes, and rate of intestinal parasitic infection. Our findings showed evidence of effects of treatment in conventional areas and between sexes with significant oxidative stress due to hydroxyl radicals, that caused DNA damage. No difference of intestinal parasite infections was found among treatments. Podarcis siculus seems to be a good bioindicator in ecotoxicological studies and potentially in risk assessment of pesticides, although further analyses in laboratory and in the field are needed to achieve more accurate quantification of specific pesticide effects in relation to known exposure history and to understand if other mechanisms were involved in the toxicity and detoxification process of pesticides for this species.

scholarly journals Invasive lizard has fewer parasites than native congener

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Tomé ◽  
D. James Harris ◽  
Ana Perera ◽  
Isabel Damas-Moreira
Keyword(s):  
18S Rrna ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Average Intensity ◽  
Invasive Potential ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Species Establishment ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard

AbstractInvasive species can carry parasites to introduced locations, which may be key to understand the success or failure of species establishment and the invasive potential of introduced species. We compared the prevalence and infection levels of haemogregarine blood parasites between two sympatric congeneric species in Lisbon, Portugal: the invasive Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) and the native green Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis virescens). The two species had significant differences in their infection levels: while P. virescens had high prevalence of infection (69.0%), only one individual of P. siculus was infected (3.7%), and while P. virescens exhibited an average intensity of 1.36%, the infected P. siculus individual had an infection rate of only 0.04%. Genetic analyses of 18S rRNA identified two different haemogregarine haplotypes in P. virescens. Due to the low levels of infection, we were not able to amplify parasite DNA from the infected P. siculus individual, although it was morphologically similar to those found in P. virescens. Since other studies also reported low levels of parasites in P. siculus, we hypothesize that this general lack of parasites could be one of the factors contributing to its competitive advantage over native lizard species and introduction success.

Alien invasive species at the Romanian Black Sea coast - Present and perspectives

2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 443-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Skolka ◽  
Cristina Preda
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Alien Invasive Species ◽  
Aquatic Animal ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Black Sea Coast ◽  
Sea Coast

Alien invasive species at the Romanian Black Sea coast - Present and perspectives Using literature data and personal field observations we present an overview of aquatic animal alien invasive species at the Romanian Black Sea coast, including freshwater species encountered in this area. We discuss records, pathways of introduction, origin and impact on native communities for some of these alien invasive species. In perspective, we draw attention on the potential of other alien species to become invasive in the study area.

scholarly journals First Record of the Northern Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus campestris) in Missouri

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-45
Author(s):  
Jeffrey T. Briggler ◽  
Rhonda L. Rimer ◽  
Guntram Deichsel
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard

Competition and invasive species impacts on native communities.

2020 ◽  
pp. 341-349
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Rogers ◽  
Salit Kark
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Interaction Frequency ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Critical Resources

Abstract This chapter describes the competition for critical resources, the species interacting over the resource and the functional traits that influence interaction frequency and outcome between native and invasive bird species.

scholarly journals First records of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) (Squamata: Lacertidae) in Albania

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 814-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edvárd MIZSEI ◽  
Marcel UHRIN ◽  
Daniel JABLONSKI ◽  
Márton SZABOLCS
Keyword(s):  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard

scholarly journals Spotlight on islands: on the origin and diversification of an ancient lineage of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus in the western Pontine Islands

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Senczuk ◽  
Katja Havenstein ◽  
Valentina Milana ◽  
Chiara Ripa ◽  
Emanuela De Simone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Lineage ◽  
Podarcis Siculus ◽  
Pontine Islands ◽  
Italian Wall Lizard

scholarly journals Short Communication: Population structure and habitat characteristics of Goniothalamus macrophyllus in Bukit Pembarisan forest, West Java, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilham Adhya ◽  
PUDJI WIDODO ◽  
CECEP KUSMANA ◽  
EMING SUDIANA ◽  
IMAM WIDHIONO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Pole Density ◽  
West Java ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Elevational Range

Abstract. Adhya I, Widodo P, Kusmana C, Sudiana E, Widhiono I, Supartono T. 2020. Short Communication: Population structure and habitat characteristics of Goniothalamus macrophyllus in Bukit Pembarisan forest, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1130-1135. Goniothalamus macrophyllus (Blume) Hook.f. & Thomson is a forest species with important medicinal value and widely used by many local communities. Excessive harvesting of this species has led to population decline and may lead to extinction. The aims of this research was to investigate population structure, habitat characteristics and environmental factors affecting local densities of G. macrophyllus in Bukit Pembarisan forest, Kuningan District, West Java, Indonesia. Purposive sampling was conducted at 17 locations during November 2017 to March 2018. The result showed that the population structure in the study area was dominated by seedlings (95% of the total number of individuals), followed by saplings (4%) and poles (0.1%). Seedlings, saplings, and poles were found growing across a wide elevational range (432-1,273 m asl.), at temperatures of 19-25°C, relative humidity of 80-90%, and soil pH of 4.61-6.46. The multiple regression analysis showed that soil nitrogen and soil pH affected seedling density, whereas soil clay content affected pole density. Our findings indicate that G. macrophyllus preferred acidic soils with high nitrogen and high clay content. We therefore recommend that future conservation efforts include the maintenance of existing poles, a prohibition on bark harvesting, and encouraging use of the leaves, rather than bark, for medicinal applications among consumers of G. macrophyllus.

scholarly journals Effects of Invasive Jumping Worms (Amynthas spp.) On Microhabitat and Trophic Interactions of Native Herpetofauna

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Renee Crone ◽  
Erin L Sauer ◽  
Bradley M Herrick ◽  
David Drake ◽  
Daniel L Preston
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Trophic Interactions ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Acheta Domesticus ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Defensive Behaviors

Abstract Invasive species can affect native communities through multiple mechanisms, including ecosystem engineering and trophic interactions. In North America, invasive jumping worms ( Amynthas spp.) may alter microhabitats used by native herpetofauna or serve as a novel food resource for herpetofauna predators. We investigated effects of Amynthas on leaf litter microhabitat and trophic interactions of native herpetofauna using an outdoor mesocosm experiment, laboratory feeding trials, and field surveys of predator stomach contents in Wisconsin, USA. In mesocosms, Amynthas reduced leaf litter biomass but did not have clear effects on soil conditions (pH, moisture, and temperature) or survival of American toad metamorphs ( Anaxyrus americanus ). In laboratory trials, American toads preyed on Amynthas, though toads were less successful at capturing Amynthas compared with alternative prey, namely European earthworms ( Lumbricus spp.) and crickets ( Acheta domesticus). The differences in prey attack success were likely due to unique defensive behaviors of Amynthas . Amynthas also spent less time moving than Lumbricus , which was associated with later prey detection times by toads. Based on diet surveys, Amynthas are consumed by common garter snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis ) in southern Wisconsin. We did not find evidence of Amynthas consumption by American toads or red-bellied snakes ( Storeria occipitomaculata ), although additional surveys will be needed to definitively determine whether these taxa are consuming Amynthas . Our findings highlight the importance of studying multiple mechanisms by which invasive species affect native communities and suggest that unique anti-predator behaviors may influence how Amynthas are incorporated into food webs as a novel prey resource.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document