Elevational diversity of reptiles on two Dinaric mountains

Kryštufek, Boris; Janžekovič, Franc; Donev, Nataša Režek

doi:10.1080/00222930701835365

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…For example, McCain (2010) found that the most common richness–elevation pattern in reptiles across the globe was a monotonic decline, and this was largely explained by temperature. Similar findings have been reported for Himalayan reptiles (Chettri et al., 2010), the Costa Rican herpetofauna (Fauth et al., 1989), reptiles in the Dinaric Alps (Kryštufek et al., 2008), and a suite of other ectotherms from around the globe (Bishop et al., 2014; Peters et al., 2016). Although negative richness–temperature relationships are reported for many taxa, including endotherms such as birds and bats (McCain, 2007, 2009), a monotonic decline pattern is most reported for ectothermic taxa (McCain, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…We test each hypothesis separately for the two main subgroups of reptile: snakes and lizards. This is typically done in studies of reptile diversity (Chettri et al., 2010; Fu et al., 2007; Kryštufek et al., 2008) because of their different morphology and life‐history strategies (Shine & Charnov, 1992). Snakes tend to occupy higher trophic positions compared with lizards, and move through the environment very differently as they do not have legs (Gove, 1979; Parker & Plummer, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elevational gradients of reptile richness in the southern Western Ghats of India: Evaluating spatial and bioclimatic drivers

Jins

Panigrahi

Jayapal³

et al. 2020

Biotropica

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Exploring elevational patterns in species richness and their underlying mechanisms is a major goal in biogeography and community ecology. Reptiles can be powerful model organisms to examine biogeographical patterns. In this study, we examine the elevational patterns of reptile species richness and test a series of hypotheses that may explain them. We sampled reptile communities along a tropical elevational gradient (100–1,500 m a.s.l.) in the Western Ghats of India using time‐constrained visual encounter surveys at each 100‐m elevation zone for 3 years. First, we investigated species richness patterns across elevation and the support of mid‐domain effect and Rapoport's rule. Second, we tested whether a series of bioclimatic (temperature and tree density) and spatial (mid‐domain effect and area) hypotheses explained species richness. We used linear regression and AICc to compare competing models for all reptiles, and each of the subgroups: snakes, lizards, and Western Ghats’ endemics. Overall reptile richness and lizard richness both displayed linear declines with elevation, which was best explained by temperature. Snake richness and endemic species richness did not systematically vary across elevation, and none of the potential hypotheses explained variation in them. This is the first standardized sampling of reptiles along an elevational gradient in the Western Ghats, and our results agree with the global view that temperature is the primary driver of ectotherm species richness. By establishing strong reptile diversity–temperature associations across elevation, our study also has implications for the impact of future climate change on range‐restricted species in the Western Ghats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevational gradients of reptile richness in the southern Western Ghats of India: Evaluating spatial and bioclimatic drivers

Jins

Panigrahi

Jayapal³

et al. 2020

Biotropica

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“…Preliminary data on the vertical distribution of Orthoptera and Mantodea on the southern slopes of Mt Sniježnica Konavoska show the expected altitudinal pattern, a decline in species richness with increasing elevation (e.g. Kryštufek et al, 2008). However, our results also highlight the importance of geomorphological features like isolated peaks (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

First overview of Orthoptera and Mantodea of the Sniježnica Konavoska Mountain

Rebrina

Tvrtković

Natura³

2019

Nat. Croat.

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During a study conducted in 2018 on Mt Sniježnica,the faunistically understudied southernmost karst mountain in Croatia, altogether 42 orthopteran and three mantid species were recorded at 18 localities at different altitudes. Two Poecilimon taxa new to Croatian fauna were found, one of them an undescribed species from the elegans group. Three bush-cricket species, namely Leptophyes intermedia, Platycleis albopunctata grisea and Pholidoptera fallax, were recorded for the first time in the Dubrovnik region. A curious variability of male cerci length, shape and position was observed within the Pachytrachis gracilis populations in the study area. The presence of several orthopteran species of importance for nature conservation was confirmed on Mt Sniježnica.

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“…Nonetheless, many publications still contrast lizard and snake groupings in diversity studies, even recent works (e.g. Savage, 2002;Fu et al, 2007;Kryštufek et al, 2008). To encompass both a monophyletic perspective and a useful comparative tool, all elevational richness patterns will be presented for the monophyletic clades (reptiles, iguanids, geckos, anguimorphs and scincomorphs) and for the functional groupings of lizards and snakes.…”

Section: Reptile Elevational Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Global analysis of reptile elevational diversity

McCain

2010

Global Ecology and Biogeography

158

139

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Aim Latitudinal-and regional-scale studies of reptile diversity suggest a predominant temperature effect, unlike many other vertebrate richness patterns which tend to be highly correlated with both temperature and water variables. Here I examine montane gradients in reptile species richness with separate analyses of snakes and lizards from mountains around the world to assess a predominant temperature effect and three additional theories of diversity, including a temperature-water effect, the species-area effect and the mid-domain effect (MDE).Location Twenty-five elevational gradients of reptile diversity from temperate, tropical and desert mountains in both hemispheres, spanning 10.3°N to 46.1°N. MethodsElevational gradients in reptile diversity are based on data from the literature. Of the 63 data sets found or compiled, only those with a high, unbiased sampling effort were used in analyses. Twelve predictions and three interactions of diversity theory were tested using nonparametric statistics, linear regressions and multiple regression with the Akaike information criterion (AIC). ResultsReptile richness and, individually, snake and lizard richness on mountains followed four distinct patterns: decreasing, low-elevation plateaus, low-elevation plateaus with mid-elevation peaks, and mid-elevation peaks. Elevational reptile richness was most strongly correlated with temperature. The temperature effect was mediated by precipitation; reptile richness was more strongly tied to temperature on wet gradients than on arid gradients. Area was a secondary factor of importance, whereas the MDE was not strongly associated with reptile diversity on mountains.Main conclusions Reptile diversity patterns on mountains did not follow the predicted temperature-water effect, as all diversity patterns were found on both wet and dry mountains. But the influence of precipitation on the temperature effect most likely reflects reptiles' use of radiant heat sources (sunning opportunities) that are more widespread on arid mountains than wet mountains due to lower humidity, sparser vegetation and less cloud cover across low and intermediate elevations.

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Elevational diversity of reptiles on two Dinaric mountains

Cited by 6 publications

References 36 publications

Elevational gradients of reptile richness in the southern Western Ghats of India: Evaluating spatial and bioclimatic drivers

Elevational gradients of reptile richness in the southern Western Ghats of India: Evaluating spatial and bioclimatic drivers

First overview of Orthoptera and Mantodea of the Sniježnica Konavoska Mountain

Global analysis of reptile elevational diversity

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