Ecology of Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca Laur.) in Belarus’

S. M. Drobenkov

Abstract


In Belarus’ the smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) is sporadically distributed, mainly along the ecotones of xerophytous biotopes, in dry edges of pine-forests and parvifoliate forest. It is a specialized saurophage feeding on viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), sand lizard (L. agilis), and slow worm (A. fragilis). Cannibalism (10.9%) is supposed to play an important role in regulation of the population number in deficiency of trophic resources. Broader distribution of this species is limited by a narrow spectrum of habitats, trophic specialization, and conservative use of the terrritory. Stable, though very low, number of population groups of smooth snake is regulated by a high level reproductive gain.


Keywords


Belarus'; ecology; habitat; population structure; regulation; smooth snake

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2000-7-2-135-138

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