Burrow choice by individuals of different sizes in the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis

Milne, Tim; Bull, C. Michael

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(00)00040-9

Cited by 64 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…From late October to early December 2012, up to 50 burrows considered suitable for lizards were located in each of six paddocks, and their GPS coordinates recorded. Lizard occupancy was confirmed using an optic fiberscope to inspect the inside of the burrow, following Milne and Bull (2000). In each of two subsequent sampling rounds, round 2 -January-March 2013 -and round 3 -March-April 2013, known burrows were checked for inhabitants and burrow condition.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pygmy bluetongue lizards inhabit single entrance, burrows originally constructed by lycosid or mygalomorph spiders (Milne & Bull, 2000;Milne, Bull, & Hutchinson, 2003;Souter, Bull, Lethbridge, & Hutchinson, 2007). The lizards are solitary and rarely leave their burrows, which function as ambush sites, from where they can prey on passing insects, as well as acting as refuges from extreme weather conditions, bushfires and predators Fenner, Bull, & Hutchinson, 2007;Milne et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of foxes digging for the pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis)

Nielsen

Bull

2016

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia

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The endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) is endemic to heavily fragmented patches of native grassland in the mid-north region of South Australia. The lizards live in spider burrows, and suitable burrows can be a limiting factor to local populations. The invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a likely predator of the lizards. No previous research has focussed on the effects of foxes on pygmy bluetongue lizards. This article presents observations from three sampling rounds in a single lizard activity season. During each round, burrows were located and lizard presence or absence, fox digging and burrow condition were recorded. Out of 256 monitored lizard burrows, 12 were dug out by foxes. The data show that foxes actively seek to prey on pygmy bluetongue lizards. In several cases, the fox gave up before reaching the lizard. Dug out burrows were quickly abandoned by the surviving lizards and became filled in, reducing the supply of suitable burrows for the population. These data highlight the need for fox management around pygmy bluetongue lizard populations, especially if future management of the species involves relocation, as small newly established populations could be vulnerable to fox predation and secondary effects of burrow destruction. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of foxes digging for the pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis)

Nielsen

Bull

2016

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia

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“…Compared to mammals and birds, reptiles have lower mobility and their survival may depend on a particular habitat structure that provides escape from predators (Milne and Bull 2000;Amo et al 2007). Reptiles also have specific thermal requirements which make them dependent on sunny places for basking (Díaz et al 2000;Martín and López 2002;Sabo 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Montado management effects on the abundance and conservation of reptiles in Alentejo, Southern Portugal

2010

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This study was carried out in the IberianMediterranean region of Alentejo (Southern Portugal) to discover which 'montado' management practices significantly affected reptile variables (abundance, richness). Field surveys on 30 sampling plots allowed us to identify 370 individuals distributed among 12 terrestrial reptile species (six lizards, one amphisbaenid and five colubrid snakes). The lizard Psammodromus algirus was the dominant species (n = 297 individuals). The highest species richness was comprised of five species, whilst two or three species were recorded in two-thirds of the sampling plots. Principal component analysis over management variables accounted for 71.8% of the total variance and subsequently helped to reveal four agrosilvopastoral types. Among them, the highest reptile abundance largely overlapped the cork oak montado, while higher cattle stocking rates were estimated (trampling index) to occur in the holm oak areas, affecting significantly the reptiles. Regression models also showed that both reptile abundance and richness were significantly related to montado areas, where the shrub layer is well preserved and cattle are either absent or present at low stocking rates. Adequate management of montado, preserving the shrub patchwork, is crucial for the conservation of reptiles. Livestock stocking rates should also be maintained at a sustainable level of 0.2-0.4 cattle/ha.

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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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Burrow choice by individuals of different sizes in the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis

Cited by 64 publications

References 10 publications

Impact of foxes digging for the pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis)

Impact of foxes digging for the pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis)

Montado management effects on the abundance and conservation of reptiles in Alentejo, Southern Portugal

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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