distribution and status of the adder (Vipera berus L.) in Scotland determined from questionnaire surveys

During 1992 two questionnaire surveys, aimed at farmers and sections of the general public, were conducted to determine the distribution and status of the adder (Vipera berus L.) in Scotland. In total, 94% of the Scottish mainland and inner isles were covered by the two surveys. The adder appears to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biogeography 1996-09, Vol.23 (5), p.657-667
Main Authors: Reading, C. J., Buckland, S. T., McGowan, G. M., Jayasinghe, G., Gorzula, S., Balharry, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adder
Amphibia. Reptilia
animal ecology
Biogeography
Biological and medical sciences
Crops
Distribution
farm surveys
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
geographical distribution
Habitats
Intensive production
Land suitability
Land surveying
Land use
Lowlands
Moorlands
Of Armadillos, Adders, Amphibians and Other Animals
population density
Questionnaires
regional surveys
Scotland
status
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Vipera berus
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Summary:During 1992 two questionnaire surveys, aimed at farmers and sections of the general public, were conducted to determine the distribution and status of the adder (Vipera berus L.) in Scotland. In total, 94% of the Scottish mainland and inner isles were covered by the two surveys. The adder appears to be widespread throughout Scotland, although it is absent from much of the Central Valley, the Outer Hebrides and Northern Isles, and from much of the mountainous region between Inverness and Glasgow. The distribution of the adder in Scotland was compared with the distributions of different habitat types defined in the ITE Land Class survey. Adders were strongly associated with areas of heterogenous land use and negatively associated with intensively arable areas and rugged mountainous areas. Strong evidence was found to suggest that perceived adder abundance had declined during the last 10 years. Although the evidence suggesting that the distribution of adders in Scotland had changed was less strong, the results of the Farm Survey did indicate that it had contracted. The perceived change in status of the adder in Scotland during the last 10 years was compared with the observed changes in land use over the same period.
ISSN:0305-0270
1365-2699
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2699.1996.tb00026.x