VOLUM OMAGIAL - Facultatea de Ştiinţe ale Naturii şi Ştiinţe Agricole

Marian Tudor / Ovidius University Annals - Biology-Ecology Series 14: 115-120 (2010)
conclusion that these populations might be larger than
the ones identified and investigated. Also, this aspect
must be correlated with the number of field hours
spent in each location. If the number of field
hours spent in the Romanian Dobrudja is
approximately equal (generally over 100 hours) in
each location, the number of hours spent in the
locations of the Bulgarian Dobrudja is much lower
(an average of 10-12 hours per location). This is why
it is very likely that the number of individuals in the
identified populations could be much higher in the
Bulgarian locations. Considering the time spent in
each location, the relative preservation of the
habitats, as well the effort of capturing the animals,
all these bring arguments in favor of this hypothesis.
Otherwise, in what regards these populations in
the Bulgarian side of Dobrudja, the data collected
over the 2008 research season evidence a relatively
good preservation of the nose horned viper in the
natural and semi-natural habitats. No road kills or
direct kills were discovered in these areas, probably
due to the fact that these habitats are located at a
considerable distance from roads and spaces
dedicated to activities with anthropogenic impact.
Still, given that the data collected here were gathered
over a period of only a few months, it is possible that
direct kills could occur sporadically due to tourism or
animal grazing [20].
At the same time, we estimate that the new
buildings, as well as the sale of lands that shelter
vipers to investors, will lead to the destruction of
their specific habitats in Bulgaria too. In both
countries, the expansion of constructions and road
improvement with the purpose of easing transport but
also of facilitating the access of mass tourism to wild
areas, will lead to the enhancement of the
anthropogenic impact in areas where it either did not
exist or it was sporadic.
4. Conclusions
The main conclusion of the study is that
Dobrudja, as biogeographical area well
circumscribed and with particular characteristics
compared to the other parts of Europe situated at the
same latitude, still hosts viable populations of the
montandoni horned viper subspecies;
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The most serious danger for the preservation of
this subspecies of horned viper is represented by the
destruction of habitats. Immediately after come the
road kills and direct kills.
The populations of Vipera ammodytes
montandoni in Dobrudja are isolated one from the
other, therefore we believe that there are few
exchanges of individuals among them or that these
exchanges lack completely in some cases, leading
thus to the reduction of the intra-population genetic
diversity;
Our data argument for the existence of at least
12 areas that shelter viable populations of nose
horned vipers in Dobrodja. These areas are:
Dumbraveni Natural Reserve, Babadag Forest,
Priopcea Hill, Macin Mountains National Park, Gura
Dobrogei Natural Reserve, the ruins of Adamclisi
fortress, Canaraua Fetii Natural Reserve, Rusalka,
Kaliakra, Bolata Dèrè, Yaillata and Kamen Bryag.
Future studies will focus on the estimation of
intra-population genetic diversity and on the
dynamics of certain populations of this subspecies in
order to propose the best measures intended for the
preservation of the Dobrudja nose horned viper.
Acknowledgements
This study was partly possible thanks to the
UNDP/GEF Atlas Project no. 047111 “The
strengthening of the national system of protected
areas in Romania through the best management
practices in the Macin Mountains National Park.”
The researches in the Bulgarian area of
Dobrudja were possible thanks to the PHARE CBC
2005 Romania-Bulgaria Program RO 2005/017-
535.01.02.02 “Comparative studies regarding the
biodiversity of coastal habitats, the anthropogenic
impact and the possibilities for the conservation of
important European habitats between Cape Midia
(Romania) and Cape Kaliakra (Bulgaria).
We are indebted to:
Dr. Dan Cogălniceanu and Dr. Marius Skolka
for providing references, valuable advice and
logistics.
Dr. Zsolt Török and Dr. Paul Szekely for
support and references.
Dr. Olivia Chirobocea for the revising of the
text and accurate English translation.