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Sweden update: |
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janne Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 No. of posts: 13  View other posts by janne |
Posted: 18 May 2005 Our amphibians have been active for some time now and last species to begin mating was Rana esculenta, which recently started croaking. In summary, we have slightly increasing populations of rare species in the southern province of SkÕne. There you can find all amphibians that occur in Sweden, except Rana lessonae. For example, reintroduced Bombina bombina is reaching at least 3000 adults and spreading. Hyla arborea 20 000, Rana esculenta 20 000, Pelobates fuscus 2000, Bufo calamita 1000 and Bufo viridis 500 (app. numbers). The situation for Bv is in focus, with efforts to reintroduce it to new suitable localities. This is done through pond digging and tadpole/toadlet introduction. On one locality we have just discovered a successful mating pair (öAsk and Emblaö) from the introductions, the first of itÆs kind! In the small pond we had at the same time Triturus vulgaris, T. cristatus, Hyla arborea, Pelobates fuscus, Rana dalmatina, Rana temporaria, Bufo bufo and Bufo calamita (reintroduced), altogether 9 species. Missing was Rana arvalis. Bombina and Esculenta lacks on this locality. ItÆs getting better.. Best regards Janne |
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Danial Senior Member Joined: 01 May 2003 No. of posts: 100 View other posts by Danial |
Posted: 19 May 2005 Hello Janne, Excellent news about the succesful reintroductions. One day I must visit SkÕne, because the amphibians sound really great. Not even seen B. calamita in UK yet! What reptile species are in the SkÕne region? Thanks Danial Consultant Ecologist and Amphibians Officer of Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group www.surrey-arg.org.uk |
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janne Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by janne |
Posted: 19 May 2005 The richness of species in south SkÕne depends on mild climate, together with a varied landscape with leafy woods, grazing areas, shore meadows and natural ponds (ödeath-ice holesö). At the same time it is a densely populated area, dominated by agriculture and urban areas, which for example has caused a reduction of Pelobates numbers of 95 % since 1960! Only in the last years conservation efforts have increased the numbers of adults and localities again. In Sweden we have the same six reptiles as in England and you can find them in SkÕne. Sand lizard is found in many localities, but Coronella only seldom in the east of the province, mostly in rocky areas as in the rest of the country. So it is not found in pure heath land as in England. Blekinge and Íland to the east of SkÕne has many good localities for the smooth snake. So in summary, best between april 15 and may 15, is is possible in a rather short radius (50 km in each direction) find altogheter 18 species! And öallemansrõttenö makes it possible to walk on every non-arable och non-garden land and at least see protected species. A link to pictures http://www.jakobaxelsson.se/images.html Best regards Janne |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 19 May 2005 Thanks Janne :) I enjoyed looking through this website. Your Natrix look alot darker than ours , do you have melanistic Grassys? Cheers, Al O-> O+> |
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janne Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by janne |
Posted: 19 May 2005 Yes, but I have not seen one myself. On Gotland there is a subspecies which sometimes is totally black. Pictures: http://www.sthlm-herp.net/shf/index.html http://www.i.lst.se/i/amnen/Naturvard/fridlysta_vaxter_djur/djur/gotlandssnok.htm Janne |
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Danial Senior Member Joined: 01 May 2003 No. of posts: 100 View other posts by Danial |
Posted: 20 May 2005 Hi Janne, Thanks for all the info on SkÕne, where to go etc. The website is great, and the dark grass snakes are very distinctive. Thanks Danial Consultant Ecologist and Amphibians Officer of Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group www.surrey-arg.org.uk |
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janne Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by janne |
Posted: 20 Jun 2005 Anyone interested in green frogs of northern Europe can look at recent TV pics from Sweden (in Swedish). Real player needed. In Ísterg÷tland at Hannõs (N 58 10, E 16 20), there exists a mixed population of esculenta and lessonae frogs, therefore unique to Sweden! Otherwise the two forms are separated in different areas. Genetics and origins are not yet solved at this locality, but studied by Christian Jakob and Martina Arioli in Switzerland. Only diploid esculenta here. Currently there are between 50 and 100 adults in the main pond, the rest in the nearby lake Vindommen: http://svt.se/svt/road/Classic/shared/mediacenter/player.jsp?d=33745&a=404044 By the coast in Uppland lessonae is breeding in many ponds and are doing quite well for the moment: http://www.tv4.se/bredband/category.aspx?treeId=100711&pid=14108 Best regards Janne |
- Sweden update |