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Current issue: Volume 21, No. 2 (2021)
Drobenkov S.M., Korzun E.V., Kulikova A.A, Rizevich K.K. 2021. Species diversity and ecology of amphibians and reptiles in urbanized landscapes of the city of Minsk. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 21 (2): 89 – 100.
Abstract
The results of ecological and faunistic studies of amphibians and reptiles in urbanized landscapes of Minsk are submitted. Minsk is the largest city in Belarus, which urbanized areas include vast areas of housing development zones, industrial enterprises, developed infrastructure of roads. According to data received, at present the fauna of the city is represented by 11 species of amphibians and 5 species of reptiles, witch characterized by different occurrence, number of population and conservation status. The most adapted to the urban environmental conditions are three species of water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex), the green toad (Bufotes viridis), the moor frog (Rana arvalis), the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara). In the habitats structure two main groups are distinguished relatively weakly transformed natural (urban reserves) and artificial (urban habitats). First group includes forest areas (forest park zones, forest belts, city parks), aquatic habitats (various ponds and watercourses) and fragments of open landscapes (unploughed weadows, wastelands, farmland).
Urban habitats are represented by zones of small house suburbs, summer cottages, roadsides, railroad slopes and industrial zones. Populations of different species are sporadically distributed because of mosaics of urbanized landscapes and preserved habitats. In most cases, the number of local population groups is low and does not exceed several tens to hundreds of individuals. The smallest number of species was recorded in the central most urbanized part of the city, the maximum in the peripheral areas. The main limiting factor that determines the species diversity and abundance of amphibians is the sufficiency and diversity of water bodies in which conditions favorable for reproduction have been preserved. The state of reptiles is determined largely by the preservation of large forests.
Key words: Amphibians, reptiles, herpetofauna, species diversity, Minsk city, urbanization, anthropogenic factors.
Sergey M. Drobenkov, Egor V. Korzun, Alena A. Kulikova. The State Scientific and Production Amalgamation, Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of
Belarus for Biological Resources, Akademicheskaja Str. 27, 220072, Minsk, Belarus, E-mail: bel_gerpetology@rambler.ru
Konstantin K. Rizevich. Сenter for Technical and Artistic Creativity of Children and Youth of
Minsk City, Alesij Garuna Str. 5, 220055, Minsk, Belarus,E-mail: konstrykonst@yandex.ru
