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The decline of the Aeolian wall lizard, Podarcis raffonei: causes and conservation proposals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2002

Massimo Capula
Affiliation:
Museo Civico di Zoologia, Via U. Aldrovandi, 18, 00197 Roma, Italy, E-mail: [email protected]
Luca Luiselli
Affiliation:
Centro di Studi Ambientali ‘Demetra’, Via dei Cochi, 48/B, 00133 Roma, Italy
Marco A. Bologna
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi, 446, 00146 Roma, Italy
Arianna Ceccarelli
Affiliation:
c/o Museo Civico di Zoologia, Via U. Aldrovandi, 18, 00197 Roma, Italy
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Abstract

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Investigations carried out in the Aeolian Islands (off north-east Sicily) during 1989–99 gathered evidence strongly indicating that the endemic Aeolian wall lizard Podarcis raffonei is close to extinction. Competitive exclusion by the lizard Podarcis sicula, which has been introduced by man, habitat degradation, and possibly reduced genetic variability and inbreeding, were the main causes for the decline of the species. For the Aeolian wall lizard to recover from its threatened status and to prevent further decimation of populations, collection and trade in the species should be prohibited, and an education programme for local people should be promoted. An integrated project involving habitat protection and captive breeding is needed to secure the species in the wild for the future.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2002 Flora & Fauna International