The status of a rare phylogeographic lineage of the vulnerable European souslik Spermophilus citellus, endemic to central Macedonia

Kryštufek, Boris; Glasnović, Peter; Petkovski, Svetozar

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Title:	The status of a rare phylogeographic lineage of the vulnerable European souslik Spermophilus citellus, endemic to central Macedonia
Authors:	ID Kryštufek, Boris (Author) ID Glasnović, Peter (Author) ID Petkovski, Svetozar (Author)
Files:	http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8555600&fulltextType=BT&fileId=S003060531200004X
Language:	English
Work type:	Not categorized
Typology:	1.03 - Other scientific articles
Organization:	UPR - University of Primorska
Abstract:	The conversion of grasslands for agriculture has triggered a serious decline of the European ground squirrel or souslik Spermophilus citellus, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996. The Jakupica phylogeographic lineage of central Macedonia is the smallest of the three major evolutionary lines of the European souslik. This lineage is an important reservoir of within-species diversity and should be regarded as an independent unit for conservation management purposes. It is endemic to Mount Jakupica, where it lives in mountain pastures at 1,500-2,250m altitude. The total area occupied by sousliks (884 ha) is fragmented and 94% of individuals occur in four colonies. Densities (0.8-5.5 adults ha-1) are lower than those reported elsewhere for the species, with the total population probably ,2,000 adults. One large colony, reportedly of c. 1,000 sousliks, was decimated in 2007 by a catastrophic fire and had still not recovered bz 2010. A steady decline in livestock grazing, together with the predicted advance of the tree line as a consequence of climate change, will probably reduce the optimal habitat for the souslik and negatively affect population fitness. Monitoring needs to be implemented, at least for the largest colonies, to provide early warning of any declines
Keywords:	Spermophilus citellus, souslik, European souslik, density, endemic, distance sampling, fragmentation, Macedonia
Year of publishing:	2012
Number of pages:	str. 442-445
Numbering:	Vol. 46, iss. 3
PID:	20.500.12556/RUP-1866
ISSN:	0030-6053
UDC:	599.322:502.172(495.6)
COBISS.SI-ID:	2208979
Publication date in RUP:	15.10.2013
Views:	4874
Downloads:	71
Metadata:
:	KRYŠTUFEK, Boris, GLASNOVIĆ, Peter and PETKOVSKI, Svetozar, 2012, The status of a rare phylogeographic lineage of the vulnerable European souslik Spermophilus citellus, endemic to central Macedonia. [online]. 2012. Vol. 46, no. 3, p. 442–445. [Accessed 9 April 2025]. Retrieved from: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8555600&fulltextType=BT&fileId=S003060531200004X Copy citation