Action Plan for the Conservation of the European Ground Squirrel Spermophilus citellus in the European Union EUROPEAN COMMISSION, 2013 1. Compilers: Milan Janák (Daphne/N2K Group, Slovakia), Pavel Marhoul (Daphne/N2K Group, Czech Republic) & Jan Matějů (Czech Republic). 2. List of contributors Michal Adamec, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia Michal Ambros, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia Alexandru Iftime, Natural History Museum „Grigore Antipa”, Romania Barbara Herzig, Säugetiersammlung, Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna, Austria Ilse Hoffmann, University of Vienna, Austria Andrzej Kepel, Polish Society for Nature Conservation ”Salamandra”, Poland Yordan Koshev, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Bulgaria Denisa Lőbbová, Poznaj a chráň, Slovakia Mirna Mazija, Oikon d.o.o.Institut za primijenjenu ekologiju, Croatia Olivér Váczi, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Nature Conservation, Hungary Jitka Větrovcová, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic Dionisios Youlatos, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece 3. Lifespan of plan/Reviews 2013 - 2023 4. Recommended citation including ISBN Janák M., Marhoul P., Matějů J. 2013. Action Plan for the Conservation of the European Ground Squirrel Spermophilus citellus in the European Union. European Commission. ©2013 European Communities Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged Cover photo: Michal Ambros Acknowledgements for help and support: Ervín Hapl (Slovakia), Rastislav Lasák (Slovakia), Peter Lindtner (Slovakia) Polish Society for Nature Conservation “Salamandra” – for organizing a workshop on the Action Plan during the IV. European Ground Squirrel Meeting in Poland 2012. EU Species Action Plan – Spermophilus citellus – second draft 2 CONTENTS Preface/Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 4 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Species’ functions and values ................................................................................................................ 5 Action plan geographical scope and target audience ............................................................................ 5 1. Biological information and status review ................................................................................... 6 1.1 Description of the species ............................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Species life history, ecology and habitat requirements ................................................................ 7 1.3 Distribution, populations size and trends ................................................................................... 12 1. 4 Threats ...................................................................................................................................... 19 2. Species conservation and legal status across its geographic range ...................................... 23 2.1 International status ..................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 National status ........................................................................................................................... 26 2.3 Existing conservation actions and identified priorities ............................................................... 27 2.4 Gaps in knowledge ..................................................................................................................... 30 3. Framework for action ............................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Goal ............................................................................................................................................ 31 3.2 Objectives................................................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Actions ........................................................................................................................................ 33 3.4 Monitoring and review ................................................................................................................ 38 3.5 Other species that may benefit from the SAP ............................................................................ 38 References: .......................................................................................................................................... 39 ANNEXES............................................................................................................................................. 46 EU Species Action Plan – Spermophilus citellus – second draft 3 Preface/Introduction The European Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus citellus is endemic to Europe. Its populations became increasingly fragmented and are facing serious declines across most of its range throughout last decades. Only a coordinated conservation effort at the European level may sustain the species viability. With this respect this European Species Action Plan has been prepared with the support of the European Commission. The aim of this action plan is to support the development of national or local action plans and conservation measures as appropriate1. The purposes of this action plan are as follows: To provide up-to date baseline information about species ecology, status and threats To provide scientifically-based recommendations to those who can promote and support species conservation To establish priorities in species conservation To provide a common framework and focus for a wide range of stakeholders The information and solutions presented within this action plan have been prepared in consultation with a group of species experts from majority of the countries in the European Ground Squirrel’s distribution range, as well as through a review of available literature. The proposed action plan therefore represents the best available up-to-date collective knowledge on the species. Within the frame of this action plan, an expert workshop has taken place during the IV. European Ground Squirrel Meeting in Poland 2012, where the analysis of information on the species, including threats and possible conservation priorities were discussed with the experts in order to define a conservation strategy and identify the most important actions. Summary The European Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus citellus is a ground dwelling rodent associated with open non-forest steppe grassland habitats including the ‘cultural’ steppe of nowadays - the short- stalked grasslands on field airports, golf courses, playgrounds etc. The distribution range of S. citellus consists of two distinct parts divided by Carpathian Mountains. The western part extends from southern Poland, through Czech Republic, east of Austria, through Slovakia and Hungary into Pannonian part of Serbia and Croatia. The eastern part of the range includes Transcarpathian region of Ukraine, Romania, part of Moldova, Bulgaria, south-east of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), north-east of Greece and European part of Turkey. According to the 2008 IUCN Red List vers. 3.1, the species is considered Vulnerable, with a decreasing population trend. In 2007 reporting to the Habitats Directive 92/43/EC the species has been evaluated in unfavourable-bad status for Alpine and Continental biogeographical regions and in unfavourable-inadequate status for Mediterranean and Pannonic regions. International group of experts on research and conservation of S. citellus declared in 2006 that the species is threatened over most of its range, so coordinated conservation effort is needed for its survival. Dominant part of distribution area of S. citellus belongs to the European Union, so concerned member states have high responsibility for the survival of the world’s population of S. citellus. The most serious threats to the species reported include habitat loss and fragmentation especially in connection with land use changes which in synergy with adverse natural factors such as long winters, floods etc. increase mortality in the populations of this obligatory hibernant and in small isolated populations quickly leed to extinction. The overall goal of this action plan is to improve conservation status of Spermophilus citellus to a favourable level within the European Union. The objectives include stopping the decline in S. citellus populations by ensuring necessary management of habitats at existing localities, restoring metapopulations by adding new/restored habitats, creating corridors and stepping stones, supporting 1 The EU Species Action Plans are not of a binding nature; species action plans are drafted and implemented at the discretion of Member States. EU Species Action Plan – Spermophilus citellus – second draft 4 populations by repatriation of animals. It is also necessary to fill in the identified gaps in knowledge and to support the species conservation by public awareness activities. In order to achieve these objectives, a list of recommended actions has been prepared taking into account the specific situation and threats in each country. The actions are divided into six categories: habitat management and land use, species