SPECIES OF COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE MUREȘ FLOOD PLAIN NATURAL PARK

Abstract

In the last decades the natural ecosystems lost territories to the detriment of extending the agricultural lands and the human settlement areas – all caused by demographic expansion.

In MureÈ™ Floodplain Natural Park the fauna is relative rich, being represented by the diversity of land and wet ecosystems. The ecosystems from the protected area offer various landscapes like: ponds, swamps, proper lands for agriculture, grassland, steppe, forest and human settlement.

We consider that the protected area mentioned above has a great value due the fact some species of animals prefers this temperate zone than other parts of Europe, living here permanently or temporary.

In the paper we aim to mention about two species of animals that live in Mureș Floodplain Natural Park and they are also included in the Red List I.U.C.N.: European ground squirrel – Spermophilus citellus and the otter– Lutra lutra.