JOURNAL ARTICLE

The impact of an extreme climatic event on adder (Vipera berus) demography in southern Sweden.

  • Published In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2023, v. 138, n. 3. P. 282 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Madsen, Thomas; Loman, Jon; Bauwens, Dirk; Stille, Bo; Anderberg, Håkan; Anderberg, Lewis; Ujvari, Beata 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the demographic impact of the exceptionally hot and dry summer of 2018 on an isolated population of adders (Vipera berus) in southern Sweden, based on a 40-year longitudinal study. Following the extreme climatic event, researchers observed a significant decline in adult male adders’ relative body mass and a roughly 50% reduction in population size by spring 2019, attributed to decreased prey availability (field voles) and increased dehydration stress. The study highlights how extreme weather events linked to climate change can have immediate and severe effects on vertebrate population demography, underscoring the value of long-term monitoring to understand these impacts. It also suggests that sudden extreme climatic events may pose a greater short-term threat to wildlife populations than gradual climatic shifts.

Additional Information

  • Source:Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2023/03, Vol. 138, Issue 3, p282
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Environmental Sciences
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0024-4066
  • DOI:10.1093/biolinnean/blac147
  • Accession Number:162697294
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Biological Journal of the Linnean Society is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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