Ecology and conservation of the Meadow viper ... - VipersGarden

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Ital. J. Zool., Suppl. 2: 159-161 (2004)
Ecology and conservation of the
Meadow viper, Vipera ursinii, in three
protected mountainous areas in
central Italy
ERNESTO FILIPPI
'Altair' Environmental Studies,
Piazza Capri 20, I-00141 Roma (Italy)
E-mail: ernesto.filippi@tin.it
LUCA LUISELLI
F.I.Z.V.,
Via Olona 7, I-00198 Roma (Italy)
ABSTRACT
The populations of Meadow Viper (Vipera ursinii) living in
three protected areas of central Italy (Duchessa Mountains Natural
Park, Majella National Park, and Gran Sasso National Park) were
studied from 1998 to 2003. In these areas the vipers were not homogenously
distributed over the whole territory, but occurred just
at a few places. Males were significantly smaller than females at
each study area, and in each year of study. However, the mean
size of both males and females did not differ significantly among
study areas and across study years. In all study areas, the diet was
based mainly on Orthoptera, while other prey categories (other
arthropods, lizards and small rodents) were negligible. There was
no apparent difference in the diet composition of the three studied
viper populations. In all three study areas, meadow vipers experience
similar threats, i.e., a reduction of microhabitat (caused,
however, by different site-specific reasons outlined below), and
mortality due to intentional killing. However, there were also remarkable
differences among study areas, which must be taken into
consideration for any serious conservation strategy on this
threatened species.
KEY WORDS: Vipera ursinii - Viperidae - Ecology - Conservation
- Protected areas - Italy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are indebted to: Dr. Teodoro Andrisano and Dr. Nicola Cimini
(Majella National Park), Dr. Dario Febbo and Dr. Aurelio
Manzi (Gran Sasso-Laga National Park), Dr. Grazia Pulzoni and
Dr. Cosimo Marco Calo (Duchessa Mountains Natural Park) for
having financed various phases of the present study project, and
the rangers of the various parks for having escorted us in the field
on many occasions. The snake specimens were captured under
authorization of the respective institutions. Dr. Marco Zuffi critically
reviewed an earlier version of this paper.
(Received 26November 2003 - Accepted 2 March 2004)
INTRODUCTION
The Meadow viper {Vipera ursinii) is one of the most
threatened snake species in Europe (Baron et al., 1996;
Baron J. P., 1997, Ph.D. Thesis, EPHE, Paris; Ujivari et
al., 2000, 2002), as well as in Italy (Filippi & Luiselli,
2000). In Italy, it has a scattered distribution in some
Apennine massifs (Bruno & Maugeri, 1979; Capula &
Luiselli, 1992, 2000), where it is found particularly in a
few protected areas (Gran Sasso -Laga Mountains National
Park, Majella National Park, Sibillini Mountains
National Park, Duchessa Mountains Natural Park, etc).
Data on the feeding ecology and the population biology
of this viper have been published in recent years
(Agrimi & Luiselli, 1992; Filippi & Luiselli, 2004; Luiselli,
2004), but the other aspects of its ecology remain very
little known (Filippi E., 2001, unpublished dissertation,
University of Camerino).
During the last five years, we have been conducting a
comparative research study on the ecology of Meadow
viper, funded by the Authorities of three protected areas
where these vipers are found (i.e., 'Gran Sasso-Laga
Mountains' National Park, 'Majella' National Park,
'Duchessa Mountains' Natural Park), with particular relevance
to the potential threats to the individual populations.
The aim of the present report was to address the
main data collected during the execution of this project.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All data were gathered in the years 1998-2003, inside the territory
of three protected areas of central Italy: 'Duchessa Mountains
Natural Park' (Latium, DMNP), 'Gran Sasso-Laga Mountains' National
Park (Abruzzi, GSNP), and 'Majella National Park' (Abruzzi,
MJNP). Detailed data on the status and distribution of V. ursinii in
these territories are presented elsewhere (Filippi E. & Luiselli L.,
2000, unpublished report to the directorship of the Reserve Corvaro
di Borgorose; 2002, unpublished report to the directorship of
the Majella National Park; 2002, unpublished report to the directorship
of Gran Sasso-Laga Mountains National Park). Field research
was conducted at sites between 1700 and 2300 m a.s.l. At
DMNP, we surveyed in particular the areas of 'Monte Morrone'
(NW, W, and SW facing slopes), 'Caparnie', surroundings of 'Lago
della Duchessa', 'Solagne del Lago', and 'Malopasso'; at MJNP, the
areas of 'Blockhaus', 'Monte Cavallo', and 'Monte d'Ugni'; and at
GSNP, the areas of 'Valle di Campo Imperatore' with its adjacent
mounts, 'Monte Cristo', 'Campo Pericoli', 'Monte Capo di Serre'
and 'Fonte della Vetica' close to the village 'Castel del Monte'.
Snakes were searched for along standardized routes in the various
micro-habitats frequented by them. They were captured by
hand, and the site of capture and the habitat at each capture site
was always recorded. Each snake was measured for snout-vent
length (SVL, to the nearest ±0.1 cm) and tail length, sexed by examining
the morphology of the cloacal region, weighed with an
electronic balance, and individually marked by ventral scale clipping
for future identification.
Statistical tests were two-tailed, and alpha was set at 5%. STA-
TISTICA (Windows version 6.0) was used for all tests.

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160 E. FILIPPI, L. LUISELLI
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 110 males and 114 females were marked
and measured for SVL. Statistics of the mean SVL of
Meadow vipers at the three protected study areas, divided
by sex and year of study, are presented in Table
I. Males were significantly smaller than females at each
study area, and in each year of study. However, the
mean size of both males and females did not differ significantly
among study areas and across study years (at
least P > 0.4 with ANOVA analysis). These results are
fully consistent with those presented in studies of conspecifics
from elsewhere (Baron et al., 1996; Baron J. P.,
1997, Ph.D. Thesis, EPHE, Paris).
Food items were found in faeces of 175 different
specimens of Meadow vipers, and their dietary data collected
at the three study areas are presented in Table II.
The diet was based mainly on Orthoptera, while other
prey categories (other arthropods, lizards, and small rodents)
were negligible. There was no apparent difference
in the diet composition of the three studied viper
populations (Table II), and our original data fully agree
with those presented by Agrimi & Luiselli (1992), relative
to the viper population inhabiting the 'Valle di
Campo Imperatore' in the GSNP.
The main direct and indirect threats to the continued
existence of Meadow vipers in the three study areas are
summarized in Fig. 1. From the comparison of the figures
it emerges that, in all three study areas, Meadow
vipers experience similar threats, notably a reduction of
microhabitat (caused, however, by different site-specific
reasons outlined below), and mortality due to intentional
killing. However, there were also remarkable differences
among study areas which must be outlined in order
to implement a reliable conservation strategy for
this species. In the DMNP, part of the area inhabited by
TABLE I - Statistics (means ± standard deviation) of the body
length (SVL) of Meadow vipers at three protected study areas, divided
by sex and year of study. Statistical significance is always
assessed by Student-t test. Symbols: DMNP, Duchessa Mountains'
Natural Park; GSNP, Gran Sasso-Laga Mountains' National Park;
MJNP, Majella National Park. In brackets the number of examined
vipers.
Areas and year
of study
DMNP
2000
2002
MJNP
2000
2001
GSNP
2002
Males Females
29.9 ± 0.04 (7) 35.1 ± 3.5 (8) < 0.001
27.8 + 2.03 (8) 33.7 ± 2.6 (5) 0.0008
30.4 ± 1.03 (8) 37.6 ± 3.5 (10) < 0.001
30.7 ±1.11 (23) 39.1 ± 2.9 (28) < 0.0001
31.3 ± 2.14 (64) 39.8 ± 4.9 (63) < 0.0001
INTENTIONAL
KILLING AND PET-
COLLECTING
INTENTIONAL
KILLING AND PET-
COLLECTING
POPULATION OF ITpera uninll
POPULATION OF ITpera aninU
OVERGRAZING
POPULATION OF Viptra ursinii
Fig. 1 - Diagram showing the main direct and indirect threats to
the conservation of the populations of Vipera ursinii at the three
study areas. A, Duchessa Mountains' Natural Park (DMNP); B, Majella
National Park (MJNP); C, Gran Sasso-Laga Mountains' National
Park (GSNP). A was already presented in Filippi & Luiselli
(2004).
V. ursinii was regularly visited by Wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Although we did not study the effects of these large
ungulates on the vipers, at lower altitude in the same
mountain massif we demonstrated (Filippi & Luiselli,
2002) that overpopulation of "Wild boars negatively affected
the local snake populations via both direct effects
of micro-habitat disturbance and predation, and indirectly
via predation and disturbance on their potential
prey species. Thus, it is very likely that overpopulation
of these mammals may also negatively affect populations
of V. ursinii in the Duchessa Mountains (Filippi &
Luiselli, 2004). In MJNP, the main risk for the vipers is
that their natural habitat (mountain grasslands) are currently
disappearing due to overforestation of Pinus mugo,
which is reducing the viable basking habitat for the
meadow viper. A similar phenomenon was also ob-

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ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF VIPERA URSINII IN CENTRAL ITALY 161
TABLE II - Summary of the dietary data collected (by faeces
analyses) from Meadow vipers at the three study areas. The numbers
indicate the sum of individual snakes from which a given
prey type was recorded and not the total number of prey items
eaten. The years of study are cumulated.
Prey items in faeces DMNP MJNP GSNP
Orthoptera
Other Arthropoda
Podarcis muralis
Rodentia
Total
2
1
1
1
24
40
1
2
3
47
96 2
3
3
104
served in Switzerland, where overforestation seems to
be a main threat for the local populations of Vipera aspis
0aggi & Baur, 1999). In GSNP, the main problem for
the vipers is the presence of some large busy roads that
divide very abundant viper populations into two subpopulations
(e.g., the road running the whole length of
the valley of 'Campo Imperatore'), and also some dirt
roads and paths where the access of cars is not prohibited.
These roads are used by vipers both for basking
and for displacements (Filippi, 2001), and so may represent
a strong source of mortality for these threatened
reptiles. It is noteworthy that comparable threats were
observed in Nigeria (Akani e al., 2002), France (Bonnet
et al., 1999) and, especially in the island of Milos
(Greece), where road mortality is perhaps the main
threat for the endemic Macrovipera schweizeri (Nilson
et al., 1999).
On the other hand, the effects of tourist trekking
seems to be less harmful for the vipers, at least in two
of the areas studied. Nonetheless, this must be monitored
especially in GSNP, where the pressure of tourism
is hardly sustainable, at least in a few viper sites (i.e.,
Campo Imperatore, Campo Pericoli).
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