facolta` di agraria check-list of the vertebrate fauna of the wet area of
Transcript
facolta` di agraria check-list of the vertebrate fauna of the wet area of
Università degli Studi di Foggia FACOLTA’ DI AGRARIA CHECK-LIST OF THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE WET AREA OF “LAGO SALSO” Maurizio Marrese1,2, Matteo Caldarella2, Vincenzo Rizzi2, Angela Libutti1 and Massimo Monteleone1 1Department of AgroAgro-Environmental Science, Chemistry and Plant Protection Via Napoli, 25 – 71100 Foggia, Tel 08810881-589312; Fax 08810881-589342; ee-mail: [email protected] 2 Centro Studi Naturalistici ONLUS , via Vittime Civili 64, 71100 71100 Foggia Introduction In those last years, the requirement for a comprehensive picture of the Italian fauna is progressively grown; for this reason, the present work is aimed at offering a contribution to the study of the Apulian fauna, updating previous knowledge or displaying new details and information, particularly with respect to habitats of major conservation value. The area involved by the present study is called “Lago Salso” (Manfredonia, FG – Italy), a wide marsh area of about 500 Ha within the borders of the “Gargano National Park”. The wetland is fed by the water gets from the canals derived from the Cervaro river; the marsh appears as a vast reeded area with a large occurrence of Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia, in association with Juncus subulatus, and Scirpus maritimus; a great naturalistic value is related to the “airon colonies” amidst an Eucaliptus spp plantation. The bordering areas (such as the “Frattarolo” swamp, the mouth of the Candelaro river, the salt-pans of Margherita di Savoia) are characterized by a mosaic of cultivated field and marshes, the latter dominated by alophyte vegetation. Materials and Methods In order to draw up the fauna check-list, reference was made to the classification and taxonomy criteria reported in the in the “Atlas of the fishes of the Italian inner waters” (Zerunian S., 2004), the “Atlas of the Italian amphibians and the reptiles” (Mayor et alii, 2006), the “Italian birds Check-list” (CISO-COI, 2004) and the “Atlas of the European mammals” (Mitchell-Jones et all., 1999). All the bibliographical reports have been submitted to a direct check, so that changes in the status of the species could be actually appraised; moreover, all the reports published before 1970 have been considered “historical”. The original data were derived from field observations obtained through different experimental approach: direct sighting, periodic censuses, naturalistic method, transect line and point count detection, recovery of animals corpses, analysis of the stuffings of the nighttime rapacious birds. In order to work out the fauna survey several devices have been used: high quality optic tools like telescopes (from 30x75 to 20-60x80) and binoculars (from 7x56 to 10x42), one laser telemeter (8x28), two GPS systems , phone-reproduction apparatus, analogical and digital cameras with high quality optics (from 18mm to 400mm). Results and Discussion Field observations and the collection of all the useful information made it possible to achieve the compilation of the check-list of the vertebrates settled in the “Lago Salso” wetland, discerning them according to their taxonomic order and phenological status. In the following table a brief sum up of the check-list is presented also expressing the species number in the corresponding percentage (table 1). The presence of 292 species was detected in total, with a preponderant ratio (84%) of bird species. Such a datum confirms the extreme importance of the area for bird conservation and mainly with respect to the wintering and migratory aquatic bird species. Also with reference to the nest-building bird species, it is necessary to underline, again, the high naturalistic value of the marsh and the need of a proper management of the wetland and of its bordering area. In fact, the site results of primary significance for international, national and regional species. It is worth to mention that in 2006 was ascertained the nidification of Phalacrocorax pygmeus and Himantopus himantopus, while the nidification of Ciconia ciconia, Anser anser, Aythyna nyroca is regularly confirmed since several years. Great relevance, furthermore, is due to the presence of Emys orbicularis. Native fishes feel the effects exerted by the introduction of non-native, alien fish species; one of the few native fishes still present in the marsh is Anguilla anguilla. Among the mammals, it is worth to signal the presence of Meles meles and of several chiroptera species. Classes Conclusions The lack of any form of naturalistic and agronomic management produces an extremely poor faunistic condition. As regard to the most problematical conservation facets of the area, the poaching activity still limits the fauna population size, together with the impacts exerted by roads as well as those exerted by suspended electrical high tension cables. The greatest environmental problem still derive from the alterations produced by the surrounding territory, greatly characterized by threatening industrialized settings. Amphibia Aves Mammalia Osteichthyes Reptilia TOTAL Species numbers and corresponding percentage 4- 1 243 - 84 28 - 10 7- 2 10 - 3 292 - 100 Table 1 – Species numbers and affiliation classes of vertebrate fauna References - Boitani L. et alii (2003) - Fauna d'Italia. Mammalia. III. Edizioni Calderini, Bologna - CISO-COI (2004) - Check-list degli uccelli italiani.http://www.ciso-coi.org - Sindaco R. et alii (2006) - Atlante degli anfibi e dei rettili d'Italia. Societas Herpetologica Italica, Ed. Polistampa - Check-list of the species of the italian fauna. http://www.faunaitalia.it/checklist/introduction.html - Zerunian S. (2004) – Pesci delle acque interne d’Italia. Quad. Cons. nat., 20, Min. Ambiente - INFS