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Current issue: Volume 21, No. 2 (2021)
Drobenkov S.M. 2021. Multi-year dynamics of faunistic complexes of amphibian and reptile in natural and transformed ecosystems in Belarus. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 21 (2): 101 – 110. The analysis of field data collected in Belarus at several biological monitoring points over a 30-year period indicates a high diversity of trends in the variation of amphibian and reptile faunistic complexes in natural and transformed ecosystems. According to dynamics of species diversity and the abundance of herpetocomplexes, several main variants of their chronological changes are distinguished: (a) a state of relative stability, characterized by slight fluctuations in structural parameters and abundance over a long time, (b) fluctuating dynamics, indicative to periodic (irregular) reversible changes in species diversity and abundance over a wide range, (c) an unstable state, characterized by significant chaotic or directional changes, caused by strong external factors leading to a significant restructuring and changes in the number of faunistic complexes. The obtained data indicate the structural and functional stability of
herpetocomplexes to external factors and their significant possibility for self-healing and maintaining the equilibrium state. In stable communities, the primary species composition, the rank of species, and their abundance are maintained for a long time without significant changes. The condition of the studied groups of animals in the short-term time scales (several decades) at the monitoring points was determined both by natural factors (fluctuations in weather and climatic conditions, flood processes in floodplain landscapes, gradual successions in forests) and by anthropogenic changes in the natural environment (forest logging, drainage reclamation, urbanization). Changes in the hydro-climatic conditions and processes associated with changes in the humidification of the territory, entailing a change in the wet and relatively dry phases are exerted the most significant influence on the state of herpetocomplexes. Longterm changes in the status of rare protected species are different and characterized by a gradual decline in numbers (crested newt Triturus cristatus, European pond turtle Emys orbicularis), fluctuating dynamics (natterjeck toad Epidalea calamita) and a relatively stable condition
(smooth snake Coronella austriaca).
Key words: Amphibians, reptiles, faunistic complex, assemblages, structure, species diversity, anthropogenic factors.
Sergey M. Drobenkov. Ecological Centre on Biological Resources of the National Academy of
Sciences of Belarus, ul. Akademicheskaya, 27, 220072, Minsk, Republic of Belarus, E-mail:
bel_gerpetology@rambler.ru
