The Herpetofauna of the Hydrographical Basin of the Moca Stream from Valea Lui Mihai Town, Bihor County, Romania
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Biharean Biologist (2009) Vol. 3, No.2, Pp.: 125-131 P-ISSN: 1843-5637, E-ISSN: 2065-1155 Article No.: 031118 The herpetofauna of the hydrographical basin of the Moca stream from Valea lui Mihai town, Bihor County, Romania Severus-Daniel COVACIU-MARCOV1*, Iulian DINCĂ2 and Nicoleta DIMANCEA2 1. University of Oradea, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology; Universităţii str., No. 1, 410087- Oradea, Romania 2. University of Oradea, Faculty of History and Geography, Environmental Geography ; Universităţii str., No. 1, 410087- Oradea, Romania * Corresponding author’s address: University of Oradea, Faculty of Sciences, Universităţii Str., No. 1, 410087- Oradea, Romania, E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. In the Moca stream basin from Valea lui Mihai town we identified 9 amphibian species (Lissotriton (Triturus) vulgaris, Triturus dobrogicus, Bombina bombina, Pelobates fuscus, Hyla arborea, Epidalea (Bufo) viridis, Pelophylax (Rana) ridibundus, Rana dalmatina, Rana arvalis), 5 reptile species (Emys orbicularis, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara, Podarcis taurica, Natrix natrix) and populations of Pelophylax (Rana) kl. esculentus). The herpetofauna of the region is characteristic to the northwestern plain areas from Romania, including beside typical plain species, glacial relicts connected to a colder and moister climate together with postglacial immigrants specific to the warmer and dryer areas. The herpetofauna diversity is determined by the habitat diversity, in the area being present wide marshes together with sand dunes. In addition, endangered species, which are protected at a national and European level, are present in the area. The most distinct herpetofauna lies in the marsh upstream of the town, the sector situated in the locality being heavily affected by man. The authors recommend the conservation of the marshes both upstream and downstream of the town, and the limitation of any interventions upon the stream strictly to the town sector, which is presently degraded. Key words: herpetofauna, anthropic activities, Podarcis taurica, Zootoca vivipara Introduction town. The research began from a pragmatic necessity, namely the wish of the authorities to arrange the course An important challenge for the present conservationist of the Moca stream across the territory of the town. As a biology is the understanding of the environmental consequence the present paper is a part of the study factors responsible for the distribution and persistence regarding the arrangement of the stream and contains of the organisms in the habitats and landscape (Hartel & data concerning the herpetofauna. Our objectives were: Öllerer 2009). This challenge is extremely actual in i.) The establishment of the composition and distri- Romania, where there is presently a high biodiversity, bution of the herpetofauna from the level of the Moca but little known at an European level (Hartel et al. 2008). stream course from Valea lui Mihai town. ii.) The Thus, the existence of studies upon biodiversity prior to identification of the rare, important and protected spe- any anthropical actions upon some relatively natural cies. iii.) The establishment of the stream sectors that habitats, even more in areas with a distinct flora and present a distinct herpetofauna. iv.) The identification of fauna, is extremely necessary. These studies must be the herpetofauna particularities of the area. v.) The both general as well as concentrated on certain target emission of some recommendations to the local groups. In this context, the herpetofauna is a distinct authorities in order to protect the areas with a distinct group, with many rare species, with strict ecological herpetofauna during the modifications applied to the requirements. The majority of the Romanian herpeto- stream. fauna species are protected, being included in the Romanian and European conservation legislation (Iftime 2005, O.U.G. 27/2007). The herpetofauna data Materials and methods are even more important in the western part of Romania The study was realized in the fall of 2008 and in the spring of where there are recent studies that prove the existence 2009. Valea lui Mihai is situated in the northern part of Bihor of a special herpetofauna area (Covaciu-Marcov et al. County (fig.1), in the plain that has the same name (Posea & 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008a,b, 2009). Badea 1984), at an altitude of 125 meters. The locality lies in the The present study aims the determination of the hydrographical basin of the Ier River, being crossed by a herpetofauna of the Moca stream from Valea lui Mihai tributary, Moca stream. The brook is a reduced-sized water- ©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2009 Biharean Biol. 3, 2009 http://biologie-oradea.xhost.ro/BihBiol/index.html Oradea, Romania 126 Covaciu-Marcov, S.D. et al. course, typical for the northwestern plain regions from cies and counted the individuals. The transect method was Romania. It forms to the north of the town from several wet recently used in other similar studies (Kati et al. 2007, Covaciu- lands and from an modified pond. North of the town the Marcov et al. 2009). The animals were not generally captured, stream crosses a wide marsh (fig.2a), which is little affected by rather they were identified using the direct observation method man. The town sector is dammed, with raised banks, being (Brown 1997). In the situations in which it was necessary to partially intubated. This sector is heavily affected by pollution. capture the individuals, this was made by hand. The aquatic Due to the lack of a sewerage system, the residual waters are amphibians and especially the newts were captured with directly discharged in the stream. South of the locality the different nets during spring. After the determination, the stream is partly arranged, forming a second important wetland captured animals were released in their habitats, being (fig.2b), more reduced than the one upstream. eventually photographed. In some situations we also The investigations were realised using the transect method determined the animals killed by locals or cars. Our study was (Heyer et al. 1994). We performed several transects in the followed a faunistic, zoogeographical and conservative di- habitats from the region, from which we determined the spe- rection. Figure 1. The geographical position of the studied area A.) B.) Figure 2. The studied habitats: A.- the upstream marsh; B.- the downstream marsh. Results amphibians (Lissotriton (Triturus) vulgaris, Triturus dobrogicus, Bombina bombina, Pelobates fuscus, Hyla In the analysed region we identified 14 herpetofauna arborea, Epidalea (Bufo) viridis, Pelophylax (Rana) species (tab.1, fig.3), together with a hybrid category ridibundus, Rana dalmatina, Rana arvalis) and five belong between two amphibian species (Pelophylax (Rana) kl. to the reptiles (Emys orbicularis, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca esculentus). From the 14 species, nine belong to the vivipara, Podarcis taurica, Natrix natrix). Biharean Biol. 3, 2009 The herpetofauna of the hydrographical basin of the Moca stream 127 The herpetofauna identified in the area of Moca verse and quantitatively rich herpetofauna is registered stream is extremely different according to its sectors. in the marsh from upstream, while the lowest is found Thus, three distinct areas can be differentiated regarding in the intermediary sector (tab.1). The results highlight the herpetofauna composition: 1. the marsh from the importance of the anthropical actions, and also the upstream of the town, 2. the intermediary sector which way in which the habitats are used on reduced surfaces. crosses the town and 3. the marsh from downstream of In the natural areas, in the case of the upstream marsh, it the town. The distinctions between them are a is emphasized in the same territory the existence of consequence of some natural ecological factors, but some species with very different ecological require- mostly are a result of anthropic actions. The most di- ments. Table 1. The distribution of the herpetofauna species in the Moca stream sectors from Valea lui Mihai town. Species presence N2K status U.M. I.S. D.M. SpCA CI-SP NI-SP CI-M Amphibians Lissotriton (Triturus) vulgaris YES - - - - X - Triturus dobrogicus YES - - X - - - Bombina bombina YES - YES X - - - Pelobates fuscus YES - YES X X - - Hyla arborea YES - - - X - - Epidalea (Bufo) viridis YES - YES - X - - Pelophylax (Rana) ridibundus YES YES YES - - - X Pelophylax (Rana) kl. esculentus YES - - - - - X Rana dalmatina YES - YES - X - - Rana arvalis YES - YES - X - - Reptiles Emys orbicularis YES - - X X - - Lacerta agilis YES YES YES - X - - Zootoca vivipara YES - YES - X - - Podarcis taurica YES - - - X - - Natrix natrix YES - YES - - - - Legend: UM= Upstream marsh; IS= Intermediary sector; DM= Downstream marsh; N2K=Natura 2000 status; SpCA=species needed special conservation areas; CI-SP=species with community interest – strictly protected; NI-SP= species with nationally interest – strictly protected; CI-M= species with community interest with exploitation management. Discussions that set it in a narrow sector from the north-western part of Romania, individualised by the presence of some The herpetofauna of the hydrographical basin of the glacial relict species together with a species related with Moca stream from Valea lui Mihai town is characteristic the warmer and dryer areas. This situation was to the north-western plain areas from Romania, which is registered in Romania only in the plain sectors with a obvious in comparison to other studies realised