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Benefits for humans:

Snakes and amphibians feed on small vertebrates and insects, respectively. Therefore, they avoid unwanted pests in crops. In addition, they protect us from species that carry diseases, such as mosquitoes, which can affect humans (leptospirosis, malaria, etc.).
The production of important drugs made from venoms of snakes and saliva of reptiles and amphibians are useful to combat serious and painful diseases.

Threats to humans:

However, herpetofauna can cause disease to humans (Salmonella -headache, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea, rash on the chest and his back). Babies and children are the most vulnerable to developing a severe form of this disease.
Some snakes are poisonous and can be a threat. In Greece, 5 species can potentially kill a human with its venom. In Israel, of the 3 poisonous species, the viper of the black mole (Atractaspis engaddensis), is the most deadly snake. Its venom includes neurotoxins that attack the heart, causing cardiac arrest in some cases. In general, the cases of deadly snake bites for humans are very few.

Inevitably, the false threats of the herpetofauna are the subject of erroneous press reports, such as the case of the false damage done by the newts to the habitat in the UK. The lack of reliable information and false perceptions cause that most people want to avoid them and, sometimes, kill them.

In general, in all the HerpetoAreas, the Herpetofauna offered many benefits for agriculture, the quality of human life and the balance of the natural environment. It is true that some species are dangerous for humans, but only if you do not know how to behave with them.

Symbol of the ancient god of medicine Asklipios with two interwined  Asculapian snakes, Zamenis longissimus.

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The Asculapian snake, Zamenis longissimus
https://peloponneseherping.wordpress.com/snakes/#jp-carousel-154

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15 case studies of bites from the most common viper in Europe, Vipera berus
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233905044_Vipera_berus_bites_in_Eastern_Poland_-_a_retrospective_analysis_of_15_case_studies

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31 / 03 / 2019

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Our main suggestions for enhancing public awareness, and meeting the challenges of conservation of herpetofauna in the Mediterranean region and beyond, should take into account the following points:

Education at all levels for improving literacy regarding herpetofauna, at all of society’s levels: communities, politicians, governmental agencies and so on.

Focus efforts not only on the reptiles and amphibians themselves, but show their importance as models and indicators for ecosystem health, functionality and integrity; for instance, amphibians as proxies for the health of aquatic ecosystems

Build grass-roots programs and implement citizen science projects, get the public involved and increase local stewardship.

Increase national and multinational cooperation, information sharing, educational and scientific programs.

Create joint platforms for information sharing and collection on herpetofauna, across institutes and organizations from academia, government, NGO’s, local communities, hobbyists.

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Alexis Panagiotopoulos (biologist and MSc student in Applied Ecology at University of Patras, Greece)

Boaz Shacham (PhD, herpetologist and ecologist, manager of the Herpetological Collection at NNHC at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel)

Lentza Konstantina (biologist)

Nikolitsa Loukatou (biologist and MSc student in Applied Ecology at University of Patras, Greece)

Roula Andriopoulou , biologist, and MSc student in Environmental education and education for sustainable development,  technical scientist and education officer,  in the  Institute of Marine Biological Resources  and Inland Waters in HCMR

Ruth Chambers, MSc (self-employed Environmental Consultant, UK)

Tania Gallego (geologist and educator at the National Museum of Natural Sciences - MNCN-CSIC - of Madrid, Spain)

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The Mediterranean Red List aims to provide information on the conservation status of the fauna and flora of the Mediterranean region

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IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature

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The Mediterranean Hotspot: from knowledge to action to preserve its biodiversity

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Communal hibernation is a feature of snake life cycles, which could be characterised as ‘sharing / neighbourly’ behaviour.

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We have found that there are probably many more similarities than differences with regards to benefits and threats to humans from herpetofauna on comparison across our respective HerpetoAreas.

The main Benefits to humans from herpetofauna include:

Natural predators of pest species that endanger human health and well-being.

Natural reservoir of beneficial compounds and chemicals of potential medicinal value.

Important players in foodwebs of natural and semi-natural ecosystems, as they are both prey and predators or herbivores with important roles.

Potential bio-indicators for health and functionality of ecosystems.

Important cultural aspects, including (but not limited to) potential for eco-tourism value.

The main Threats to humans from herpetofauna include:

Snakebite (from some venomous species), entailing potential physical harm to humans and to domestic animals, in extreme cases possible death.

Disease spread from feces (especially some strains of Salmonella sp.) – not common.

·        Aversion due to fear, usually rooted in lack of true knowledge of herpetofauna.

The main differences between our HerpetoAreas are in specific challenges and possible local strategies to meeting these challenges. Many of these stem from geography:

On islands, e.g. Crete, the adverse effects of stresses such as touristic development and invasive species affecting local fauna are exacerbated.

In areas with highly diverse geology and climatic regimes, e.g. Israel, there is a relatively high diversity including medically important (= potentially dangerous) snakes.

We conclude that key conservation actions should focus on sustainable management and legal protection of endangered species and their habitats, and promotion of education, awareness-raising activities and monitoring studies amphibians and reptiles at local and regional scales. All major stakeholders must be included to promote success of these efforts and actions: local communities, governmental and non-governmental agencies, academic experts and novices or hobbyists alike.

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Discreet educational activities with children can improve the future of the most vulnerable species. Poster design to be used in schools, by MNCN-CSIC.

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This report looks at the following aspects of our topic relating to herpetofauna:

Direct, physical threats to human health:

venomous reptiles;

disease transmission from herpetofauna to humans

Perceived threats to human activity / wellbeing:

species protection legislation delaying development construction;

folklore stories and ignorance of reptile behaviour promoting unjustified fears of danger

Direct, physical benefits to human health / activity:

resourcing of drugs from secretions of herpetofauna;

analysis of snake skin structure to aid textural product design

Indirect benefits to human wellbeing:

herpetofauna’s role in regulation of pest species (crop pests, disease vectors)

encounters with herpetofauna aiding people’s awareness of the balance of nature;

amphibians as indicators of aquatic pollution

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A major challenge for the countries of the Mediterranean Region with their great biodiversity in reptiles and amphibians is to tackle the problem of reptiles and amhibians species trafficking. Spain among other counties has a crucial role in the trade of certain species of wild frora and fauna as a connetion point between Europe and the rest of world.

Illegal Species trafficking is a very profitable business. In addition, it is the second cause of biodiversity loss in the world..The species which are used for trafficking in Spain are the greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) and eggs of psittacines and exotic reptiles

Another challenge is to promote to the general public (students, farmers,local authorities, etc.) the significant ecosystem services offered by the herptile species. Through herpetofauna many children could be acquaint of nature and wild life.

Tackling the aversion response of people to venomous snakes is one more challenge. More education and information about their biology, distrbution, habits, ecology, behaviour, and conservation issues, could help soften the public attitudes and change their perceptions for them.

The run overs are one of the major causes of mortality of toads (in the picture, Bufo spinosus) on many roads in Spain.

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We are the work team 4 ;)

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Spain
- Amphibian and Reptile Information Server of Spain (SIARE)
http://siare.herpetologica.es/

- Digital Magazine Sierra Nevada National Park
https://waste.ideal.es/sierranevada.htm

- 'Amphibians in Spanish popular medicine and the pharmacopoeia of Pliny and Dioscorides'

http://www.scielo.br/pdf/hcsm/v22n4/0104-5970-hcsm-2015005000010.pdf

- Benítez, M., Romero, D., Chirosa, M. & Real, R., 2017. Eco–geographical characterization of aquatic microhabitats used by amphibians in the Mediterranean Basin. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 40.1: 27–40,
https://bit.ly/2TJySoW

UK
- Black, Yvonne (University of Hull). 2017. In defence of Great Crested Newts:  Why these elusive amphibians are worth the worry. Website: The Conversation, Sept 22, 2017. https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-great-crested-newts-why-these-elusive-amphibians-are-worth-the-worry-77288

- Buxton A.S. & Griffiths R.A. (2017). Advantages and disadvantages of eDNA surveys for great crested newts: perceptions from practitioners. Note on a workshop held at Herpetofauna Workers Meeting, February 2017. Unpublished. https://www.arc-trust.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=d1aeec22-19f2-46e7-a897-5a986a0f1fe5

- Julian, A.J. & Hand, N.K. (2018). ARG UK Advice Note 11. Managing Habitat for Adders: Advice for Land Managers. Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK.

https://www.arguk.org/downloads-in-pages/resources/advice-notes/416-11-advice-note-11-managing-habitat-for-adders-advice-for-land-managers-may-2018/file

- Malhotra, Anita (Bangor University). 2016. Why we should bother saving Britain’s only venomous snake. Website: The Conversation, Oct 13, 2016. https://theconversation.com/why-we-should-bother-saving-britains-only-venomous-snake-66154

Greece
- A common myth in Cretan villages
https://www.newsbeast.gr/environment/arthro/3148257/pia-ine-ta-dilitiriodi-erpeta-ke-entoma-sti-kriti

- Melissa Bielawski, (2017). Significance of Reptiles in a balanced Ecosystem
https://sciencing.com/reptiles-important-humans-6469520.html

- Sargent Emma (2017). Healing properties of Venom
https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/from-venoms-to-medicine/3008360.article

- S.C. Manolis, G.J. Webb and A.R. Britton. Reptiles can help us save the environment
https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/34/001/34001788.pdf?r=1

-  Drexel University (2018). Snakes as models in Engineering
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/du-wcs052118.php

- Ilias Strachinis (2010). How beneficial are the reptiles and amphibians for humans
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=narticle&page=read&id=24

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In this research we want to highlight the benefits of herpetofauna in different areas of the Mediterranean Basin (Spain, Greece -and some greeks islands-, Israel) including species found in places further north, specifically in the United Kingdom. Species analyzed occupy a wide variety of habitats: lagoons, streams, rivers, stony slopes, understory, plains, meadows and arid zones.

The benefits that ecosystems provide to humans influence our survival and quality of life, the amphibians and reptiles that live in them provide us with an immense variety of environmental services, although many of them are unknown to society. These environmental services are divided into four categories:

provision (food, fibers, medicine)

regulation (insect suppression, pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, soil stabilization)

support (nutrient cycle, soil formation, primary production)

cultural (esthetic, educational, spiritual and recreational)

Amphibians and reptiles, as a result of their ecological functions, provide services to humanity in all of these categories, so their decline has serious consequences for the functioning of the ecosystem and for us.

We also stand out the potential threats and/or damage that these animals can cause to humans like diseases, caused by pathogens (Salmonella), by having them as pets, by eat their meat or by be mortal for somes people.

In current society, our fascination with amphibians and reptiles is increasing (identification guides, terrariums to raise them at home, databases open to the public, collections in museums...). For children it is an ideal way to get close to nature and learn about it. However, on many occasions the influence of folklore continues to encourage negative behaviors against these beautiful and necessary animals.

Photograph: Ⓒ Roberto Sindaco

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Our report focuses on the potential (and actual) benefits and threats that the herpetofauna provides for humans, comparing these across several different HerpetoAreas (Crete, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Spain, Samthrace Island (Greece)).

Herpetofauna provide, in all HerpetoAreas considered, various benefits covering all categories of ecosystem services – provisioning, regulating, cultural & supporting. But they also present threats, some real (e.g. snakebite) and others perceived or misperceived, including aversion towards these animals. We present current challenges with regards to maintaining or conserving the biodiversity of herpetofauna in light of these benefits and threats.

We have found that there are probably many more similarities than differences with regards to benefits and threats to humans from herpetofauna on comparison across our respective HerpetoAreas, but some differences mainly in specific challenges and possible local strategies to meeting these challenges.

We conclude that key conservation actions should focus on sustainable management and legal protection of endangered species and their habitats, and promotion of education, awareness-raising activities and monitoring studies amphibians and reptiles at local and regional scales. All major stakeholders must be included to promote success of these efforts and actions: local communities, governmental and non-governmental agencies, academic experts and novices or hobbyists alike.

Distribution of Endemic Amphibians in Europe and Major Threats to Amphibians in Europe.
IUCN Species Programme.
www.iucn.org

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Mediterranean amphibians (18%) are more affected by global climate change than reptiles (3%).

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‘bad reputation’ in public perception (see this newspaper article about an adder bite affecting a family dog).

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http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php

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Graphic and visual resources make this work more attractive and dynamic. However, the rigor of the information is based on the scientific documents consulted from reliable sources and that we mention both in the references and in some publications that are attached to the padlet.

PDF Published by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in collaboration with the European Union.

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As the Mediterranean basin’s reptile and amphibian biodiversity faces many pressures, urgent actions are required to preserve its future.

It is important to promote the multiple benefits for humans from the presence of reptiles and amphibians in their area, or country. To avoid damaging the cause of conservation the reasons for species protection must become better known. The facts are that many species as the great crested newts are European protected species because they are threatened on the continent in several countries. So, on a Europe-wide scale it is especially important for Britain and other countries to effectively protect these significant newt numbers.

Through new scientific molecular techniques like environmental DNA (eDNA), the detection of herpetofauna traces, like newts is becoming much cheaper, quicker and easier to survey.

Amphibians’ reliance on water for breeding and their sensitivity to aquatic pollution can be raised as an indicator to land use managers (e.g. farmers, industry, gamekeepers) of the need to maintain good water quality locally.

The fact that amphibians in general need a wide range of habitat features, both aquatic and terrestrial, during their life cycle can sensitize people to the need to sustain a diversity of vegetation and habitat features with connections between them. Also, the fact that great crested newts habitually range 250m (and in some cases up to 1km) around breeding ponds, and that they live in ‘metapopulations’ can show the importance of large-scale habitat conservation, the basic message being that isolated / fragmented habitats are not good homes for newts.

The key conservation actions should be focused on sustainable management and legal protection of endangered species and their habitats.Besides, the importance of education, awareness-raising activities and monitoring studies for sustainability of Mediterranean amphibians and reptiles is required.

Male Alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris, https://hiveminer.com/Tags/alpestris%2Calpine

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Lizard feeds with tick (Photo: Jan Van Der Voort, jan.van.der.voort@skynet.be)

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Elaphe quatuorlineata Harmless snake that feeds with big rodents to adult rats. (Photo: Jeroen Speybroeck, Herpetofauna of Europe)