Number dynamics of common reptile species (Reptilia) in the Slobozhanskyi National Natural Park

Abstract

Slobozhanskyi National Natural Park is located in the forest-steppe zone in the northwest of the Kharkiv region and includes intrazonal natural complexes which are typical for Polesye. The present paper contains the results of the quantitative studies on four most numerous reptile species in the park: еuropean pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), slow worm (Anguis fragilis) and grass snake (Natrix natrix). The surveys were conducted by a transect method in four types of habitats: floodplain alder forest, edge of a pine forest, sedge-sphagnum upland bogs, floodplain oak forest. It has been found that the occurrences of the studied reptile populations in most cases are typical for respective types of habitats. The abundance index of L. agilis is relatively low as for floodplain and edge ecosystems and E. orbicularis has the relatively high abundance in the bogs, given that it is a regionally rare species. N. natrix is the most common reptile species in the park. Significant changes in the occurrence of certain species were recorded only for waterfowl habitat and associated with the period of drought in 2015. There is a slight downward total trend in the number dynamics of E. orbicularis and N. natrix in the upland bogs.