<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The research was conducted in 2016–2017 in the 6,613-ha Kozubów Landscape Park (KLP). It focused on the occurrence and distribution of amphibians and reptiles, the biology and phenology of selected species and the existing threats.The KLP, established in 1986, is located in the Nida Basin, covering the eastern part of the Wodzisławski Ridge. This area is characterised by diverse landscape features formed on a chalk substrate. A significant part of the KLP (48.8%) is covered by forests growing on the tops and slopes of loess hills intersected by valleys and gorges. Hornbeam forests and fragments of riparian forests have retained a semi-natural character. The steep, non-forested slopes with a southern and south-western exposure are overgrown by thermophilic xerothermic grasslands. Xerothermic plant communities show a relatively low species diversity, because the main type of substrate in this area is loess. Two nature reserves, Polana Polichno and Wroni Dół, are located within the KLP borders.The following amphibian species were found in the KLP: smooth newt (<italic>Lissotriton vulgaris</italic> L.), great crested newt (<italic>Triturus cristatus</italic> Laur.), European fire-bellied toad (<italic>Bombina bombina</italic> L.), common spadefoot toad (<italic>Pelobates fuscus</italic> Laur.), common toad (<italic>Bufo bufo</italic> L.), European green toad (<italic>Bufotes viridis</italic> Laur.), European tree frog (<italic>Hyla arborea</italic> L.), edible frog (<italic>Pelophylax esculentus</italic> L.), pool frog (<italic>Pelophylax lessonae</italic> Cam.), moor frog (<italic>Rana arvalis</italic> Nilss.) and common frog (<italic>Rana temporaria</italic> L.). Reptiles are represented by the sand lizard (<italic>Lacerta agilis</italic> L.), viviparous lizard (<italic>Zootoca vivipara</italic> Jacquin), slow worm (<italic>Anguis fragilis</italic> L.), grass snake (<italic>Natrix natrix</italic> L.), smooth snake (<italic>Coronella austriaca</italic> Laur.) and common European adder (<italic>Vipera berus</italic> L.). The study also included the phenology and reproductive biology of common toad and common frog.Major threats to the herpetofauna are posed by grass burning. Unfavourable changes include decreasing water levels and drying out of water bodies.</abstract>

The research was conducted in 2016–2017 in the 6,613-ha Kozubów Landscape Park (KLP). It focused on the occurrence and distribution of amphibians and reptiles, the biology and phenology of selected species and the existing threats.The KLP, established in 1986, is located in the Nida Basin, covering the eastern part of the Wodzisławski Ridge. This area is characterised by diverse landscape features formed on a chalk substrate. A significant part of the KLP (48.8%) is covered by forests growing on the tops and slopes of loess hills intersected by valleys and gorges. Hornbeam forests and fragments of riparian forests have retained a semi-natural character. The steep, non-forested slopes with a southern and south-western exposure are overgrown by thermophilic xerothermic grasslands. Xerothermic plant communities show a relatively low species diversity, because the main type of substrate in this area is loess. Two nature reserves, Polana Polichno and Wroni Dół, are located within the KLP borders.The following amphibian species were found in the KLP: smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris L.), great crested newt (Triturus cristatus Laur.), European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina L.), common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus Laur.), common toad (Bufo bufo L.), European green toad (Bufotes viridis Laur.), European tree frog (Hyla arborea L.), edible frog (Pelophylax esculentus L.), pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae Cam.), moor frog (Rana arvalis Nilss.) and common frog (Rana temporaria L.). Reptiles are represented by the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis L.), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara Jacquin), slow worm (Anguis fragilis L.), grass snake (Natrix natrix L.), smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laur.) and common European adder (Vipera berus L.). The study also included the phenology and reproductive biology of common toad and common frog.Major threats to the herpetofauna are posed by grass burning. Unfavourable changes include decreasing water levels and drying out of water bodies.

Herpetofauna of the Kozubów Landscape Park

Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach

Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego w Warszawie

Instytut Ochrony Środowiska - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Warszawie

Wyższa Szkoła Rehabilitacji w Warszawie

Environmental Protection and Natural Resources

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Herpetofauna of the Kozubów Landscape Park"}

The research was conducted in 2016–2017 in the 6,613-ha Kozubów Landscape Park (KLP). It focused on the occurrence and distribution of amphibians and reptiles,...

Herpetofauna of the Kozubów Landscape Park

Published Online: Nov 19, 2019

Page range: 7 - 14

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oszn-2019-0011

Keywords
amphibian, reptiles, occurrence, biology, phenology, Kozubów Landscape Park

© 2019 Dariusz Wojdan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Herpetofauna of the Kozubów Landscape Park

Published Online: Nov 19, 2019

Page range: 7 - 14

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oszn-2019-0011

Keywordsamphibian, reptiles, occurrence, biology, phenology, Kozubów Landscape Park

© 2019 Dariusz Wojdan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
amphibian, reptiles, occurrence, biology, phenology, Kozubów Landscape Park