Adding burrows to enhance a population of the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis

Souter, Nicholas J.; Bull, C. Michael; Hutchinson, Mark N.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(03)00232-5

Cited by 80 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…To maximise repeatability between surveys, pitfall traps should be placed permanently or at marked positions. Artificial retreats used for monitoring should not be left in place long-term, as they may lead to patches of atypically high skink density (Souter et al 2004;Lettink & Cree 2007;Batson et al 2015) or competitive exclusion of small individuals (Batson et al 2015). Future investigations of artificial retreats for monitoring skinks should use consistent device layouts, and we suggest that both pitfall traps and artificial retreats be spaced 2 m apart in a 5 × 5 formation (Lettink et al 2011).…”

Section: Behavioural Responses Of Skinks To Capturementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing and comparing population densities and indices of skinks under three predator management regimes

Wilson¹,

Mulvey²,

Clarke³

et al. 2017

NZ J Ecol

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Introduced mammalian predators threaten populations of endemic New Zealand skinks. Their effects on skink populations have been not often quantified on the mainland and are known primarily from skink population increases on islands from which mammals have been eradicated. Estimating skink population density with capture-recapture trapping is time-consuming and costly. Counting skinks in artificial retreats in specific weather conditions may be a useful and relatively quick way to index population density, but needs calibration for different habitats and species. In 2007 and 2009, we estimated the population density of small terrestrial skinks (McCann's skink Oligosoma maccanni, southern grass skink O. aff. polychroma clade 5 and cryptic skink O. inconspicuum), based on spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) in pitfall traps in three mammal-management treatments at Macraes Flat, Otago. The treatments were eradication of large predators and near-eradication of rodents inside a mammal-resistant fence, suppression of mammalian predator populations through continuous trapping (two locations within an extensive area), and no mammal management. We tested for relationships between the estimated population densities and dawn and late-morning counts of skinks in artificial retreats. Skink density (three species combined) ranged from c. 1200 per ha at the experimental control site to c. 4000 per ha at the fenced site. These treatment differences in skink density may be the combined effect of predator management and pre-existing differences due to habitat characteristics and farming practices. Skink counts done in late morning (2009) were related to estimated skink densities but did not differ significantly between treatments. Skink counts done at dawn (both years) were not related to densities. Counts, but not densities, were significantly higher at locations with a more northerly aspect. We recommend further investigation of the utility of skink counts in artificial retreats for monitoring skink density at this location, with careful control of ambient temperature during sampling, and of aspect, habitat and device placement.

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Section: Behavioural Responses Of Skinks To Capturementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing and comparing population densities and indices of skinks under three predator management regimes

Wilson¹,

Mulvey²,

Clarke³

et al. 2017

NZ J Ecol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Within such a context, the first category of animal species is relatively less dependent on characteristics of the environment (but see Bonnet et al 2009). By contrast, the availability of pre-existing refuges, often dug by other organisms, may strongly constrain the distribution range of species that cannot construct their own refuges (Armstrong and Griffiths 2001;Beck and Jennings 2003;Souter et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The parallel decline in rabbit and ocellated lizard abundance suggests that the maintenance of lizard populations may be dependant on the burrows dug by the rabbits, and possibly on the insects that develop on the open areas grazed by the rabbits (especially coprophagous beetles; Castilla et al 1991;Hódar et al 1996;Cheylan and Grillet 2004;Grillet et al 2008). Although evidence suggests that such an association between a reptile and a mammal could be of prime importance for conservation management, this issue remains insufficiently explored (Souter et al 2004;Read et al 2008;Gálvez Bravo et al 2009). In the current paper, we first analysed long term data of ocellated lizard densities in relation with the availability of rabbit burrows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rabbit burrows or artificial refuges are a critical habitat component for the threatened lizard, Timon lepidus (Sauria, Lacertidae)

et al. 2010

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“…For example, their thermal requirements make them dependent on availability of sunny places for basking (Martı´n and Lo´pez 2002;Scheers and Van Damme 2002;Sabo 2003). Also, dependence on habitat structure for refuges from predators can be an important determinant of lizard survival (Milne and Bull 2000;Webb and Shine 2000;Souter et al 2003). Lower mobility and dispersal abilities of lizards, compared to birds or mammals, may also increase their vulnerability to local extinction to a greater extent than for other groups (Dı´az et al 2000;Mac Nally and Brown 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural oak forest vs. ancient pine plantations: lizard microhabitat use may explain the effects of ancient reforestations on distribution and conservation of Iberian lizards

2006

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Natural vegetation in Europe appears nowadays deeply modified by human activities. In the Guadarrama Mountains (Central Spain), ancient reforestations with Scots pines, Pinus sylvestris, replaced original deciduous pyrenean oak, Quercus pyrenaica, forests (since the Roman period). However, the effect of reforestations on fauna remains little known, especially in reptiles. We described patterns of microhabitat selection in several species of Lacertid lizards, and analyzed whether the modification of the original vegetation affected distribution and population densities of lizards. The species of lacertid lizards found in oak forests (Psammodromus algirus, Lacerta lepida and Podarcis hispanica) were different to those of in pine plantations (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis hispanica). Lizards did not use habitat at random and this could explain differences in species found in both forests, which differed in some microhabitat structure characteristics. Most lizards selected microhabitats with rocky outcrops, with low cover of trees, and close to refuges. These microhabitat preferences also explained abundance of lizards in transects. From the perspective of conservation and management of lizards, pine plantations seem not to contribute too much to the diversity of lizard species because species typical from oak forests were lost. This study has implications for pine reforestation management, because allowing the recolonization by understory oaks, and leaving some open areas, without trees but with dense shrubs and rocks inside reforestations would contributed to maintain lizard populations.

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Adding burrows to enhance a population of the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis

Cited by 80 publications

References 10 publications

Assessing and comparing population densities and indices of skinks under three predator management regimes

Assessing and comparing population densities and indices of skinks under three predator management regimes

Rabbit burrows or artificial refuges are a critical habitat component for the threatened lizard, Timon lepidus (Sauria, Lacertidae)

Natural oak forest vs. ancient pine plantations: lizard microhabitat use may explain the effects of ancient reforestations on distribution and conservation of Iberian lizards

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