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- Title
PRELIMINARY DATA ON FAUNA RAILWAY MORTALITY IN DOBRUJA (ROMANIA) INDICATE A POSSIBLE IMPACT ON SPUR-THIGHED TORTOISE, Testudo graeca.
- Authors
Daniel-Răzvan, POP; Bogdan-Ionuț, LUCACI; Diana, CUPȘA
- Abstract
Spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) are protected in Romania, where they are at the limit of their distribution range. Because tortoises are negatively affected by transportation networks, we supposed that this impact would also be obvious in an area from Romania where they are present. For these, we chose to study the fauna mortality on three railway segments from Dobruja, south-eastern Romania, during the 2020 summer. We identified 75 animals killed on railways, belonging to 20 taxa. Among them, four were tortoises (Testudo graeca). Dead tortoises were identified both between the rails, but also outside them. Thus, it is difficult to know if they were victims of the railway traffic (directly or indirectly) or died from other causes near the railway. We encountered significant railway mortality differences between the studied sectors, probably influenced by the aspect of surrounding habitats. The survey season (summer) and region have a prominent influence on railway wildlife mortality. Many victims were killed long before the study, thus the railway impact upon the fauna may be less severe.
- Subjects
ROMANIA; TESTUDINIDAE; RAILROADS; MORTALITY; SUMMER
- Publication
Oltenia, Studii si Comunicari Seria Stiintele Naturii, 2021, Vol 37, Issue 2, p101
- ISSN
1454-6914
- Publication type
Article