Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1002/ece3.11378
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Influences of ski-runs, meadow management and climate on the occupancy of reptiles and amphibians in a high-altitude environment of Italy
Author Chiacchio, M.; Rödder, D.; Henle, K.; Grimm-Seyfarth, A.
Source Titel Ecology and Evolution
Year 2024
Department NSF
Volume 14
Issue 5
Page From e11378
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0gb5mkm6v
Keywords habitat change; mountains; multi-season occupancy; Rana temporaria; Vipera berus; winter tourism; Zootoca vivipara
Abstract Alpine ecosystems harbour a rich and highly specialised biodiversity, which is particularly susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances such as habitat loss and fragmentation as well as to climate change. Combined with other forms of land-use conversion, construction and maintenance of ski resorts can have severe consequences on alpine biodiversity. In this study, we show how one amphibian and two reptile species, namely Rana temporaria, Zootoca vivipara and Vipera berus, respond to such impacts by means of a multi-season occupancy analysis. We found all three species both in and outside ski-runs, showing that these habitats do not necessarily preclude their occurrence. Contrarily, this is influenced more by microhabitat availability, such as ground vegetation, humid areas and rock cover, rather than by macro-characteristics like elevation or habitat type. Moreover, we found a climatic influence on the year-to-year occupancy change of the species, with activity-month conditions being more relevant than overwintering ones. Our results demonstrate how, in the specific case of reptiles and amphibians, ski resorts do not necessarily limit species' occurrence and that a mild series of management actions might secure the species' persistence in the area.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29060
Chiacchio, M., Rödder, D., Henle, K., Grimm-Seyfarth, A. (2024):
Influences of ski-runs, meadow management and climate on the occupancy of reptiles and amphibians in a high-altitude environment of Italy
Ecol. Evol. 14 (5), e11378 10.1002/ece3.11378