Georgi Popgeorgiev
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7625-8898; Angel Dyugmedzhiev
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3765-7076; Simeon Lukanov
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2546-6590; Emiliya Vacheva
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3008-6648; Miroslav Slavchev
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2426-8875; Kostadin Andonov
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3736-5946; Vladislav Vergilov
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7464-2263; Deyan Duhalov
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9805-7015; Georgi Krastev
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0184-761X; Andrei Stojanov; Nikolay Tzankov; Dimitar Plachiyski
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3579-2517; Yurii V. Kornilev
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8596-8728; Borislav Naumov
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2146-208X
4 March 2025 ·
volume 47 · (
issue 3) · pp. 39–47 ·
PDF [full text]
Abstract: Kresna Gorge and the broader Struma River Valley in south-western Bulgaria host high species diversity, including species of conservation importance and locally restricted distribution. Precise published data on amphibian and reptile distributions, however, are limited and incomplete. Here we summarised 2834 precise distribution records from the herpetofauna in the region, focusing on four key species of conservation importance: Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, Elaphe quatuorlineata and Zamenis situla. We identified three areas of importance for the key species within the study area, confirming the significance of Kresna Gorge. The key species were mostly found at lower elevations, near the major road E79; automotive traffic presents a major threat to the populations.
Keywords: Amphibia, conservation, distribution, mapping, Reptilia, road mortality
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Supplementary materials [1]
01
Document title: Coordinates, altitude and source reference of the locations for Elaphe quatuorlineata, Testudo graeca, Testudo hermanni and Zamenis situla, used for the analyses in the current study
Kind of document: Microsoft Excel (OpenXML)
MIME type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
Document name:
000578000472025-01.xlsx
https://doi.org/10.48027/hnb.47.031/01