Does Shelter Site Selection Aid Persistence of a Threatened Alpine Lizard? Assessing Liopholis guthega Populations a Decade after Severe Fire in Southeastern Australia

Atkins, Zak S.; Clemann, Nick; Robert, Kylie A.

doi:10.1670/13-194

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Reduced dispersal capacity in reptiles is commonly associated with habitat specificity (Dubey & Shine, ) and has previously been documented in sympatric reptile species occurring at high elevation (Sato et al ., ; Haines et al ., ). Indeed, L. guthega is a habitat specialist, found predominantly in granite outcrops, which permit the formation of extensive warren systems (Atkins et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Threats include the recession of alpine habitat associated with climate change (Green, Mansergh & Osborne, ) and alpine tourism – the species is restricted to Australia's highest peaks and is distributed among ski resorts (Sato et al ., ). Within its highly limited range, L. guthega exhibits high site fidelity to burrow systems, living in small, discrete colonies (Atkins, Clemann & Robert, ). A previous phylogeographic study using a single mitochondrial gene and extremely limited sampling across the species range, suggests that L. guthega may be highly structured throughout its range (Chapple et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Allopatric divergence drives the genetic structuring of an endangered alpine endemic lizard with a sky‐island distribution

Atkins

Amor

Clemann

et al. 2019

Animal Conservation

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Anthropogenic climate change is causing a world-wide reduction of alpine habitat, leaving many high-elevation species restricted to sky-islands and vulnerable to extinction. Understanding the genetic parameters of these populations provides key insight into species diversity, dispersal capacity and vulnerability to disturbance. We examined the impact of past climatic variation on a threatened alpine endemic lizard, the Guthega skink, Liopholis guthega. We analysed SNP and mtDNA data to determine the population structure and phylogeny within this species, providing an understanding of the species' relatedness, dispersal and viability. We identified significant genetic structure, with the split between populations in Koscuiszko National Park, New South Wales (NSW) and the Bogong High Plains, Victoria (VIC) consistent with Plio-Pleistocene divergence. However, we also detected evidence of possible historical introgressive hybridization between some NSW populations and the VIC populations. Marked within-site population structure and significant population differentiation among sites within each state were found, indicating a limited dispersal capacity. Higher levels of genetic diversity within NSW support the correlation between elevation and diversity and implicate Kosciuszko National Park as a historic refugia. Low contemporary habitat availability, little to no capacity for elevational progression and low genetic diversity, particularly in VIC, leaves L. guthega highly vulnerable to threatening processes associated with climate change. Conservation management should consider genetic rescue as a potential method to enhance genetic diversity across this species' range.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allopatric divergence drives the genetic structuring of an endangered alpine endemic lizard with a sky‐island distribution

Atkins

Amor

Clemann

et al. 2019

Animal Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In addition, the sites at the Bogong High Plains have differing land use and fire histories, having burned more extensively during the 2003 alpine wildfire (Atkins et al . ) and having been subject to greater grazing pressure (Wahren et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Guthega skink ( Liopholis guthega , Egerniinae) is a medium?sized (~100 mm SVL), viviparous, cool?climate specialist lizard endemic to the Australian Alps (Atkins et al . ). It is found above 1600 m in two geographically isolated locations: Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) in New South Wales, and the Bogong High Plains (BHP) in Victoria (Donnellan et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Consistent temporal variation in the diet of an endangered alpine lizard across two south‐eastern Australian sky‐islands

et al. 2017

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A species' diet and feeding strategy directly affect fitness and environmental interactions. Understanding spatial and temporal variation in diets can identify key resources, inform trophic relationships, and assist in managing threatened species. The nationally endangered Guthega skink, Liopholis guthega, is restricted to two isolated Australian alpine plateaux, the Bogong High Plains (BHP) in Victoria and Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) in New South Wales. We compared this species' foraging ecology over the summer period between these 'sky-islands' separated by~100 km of lowland valleys. Scat composition did not differ between the two lizard populations, despite differences in the invertebrate assemblages present. However, L. guthega diet varied temporally over summer at both locations. Invertebrates, predominantly Hymenoptera and Coleoptera, were the dominant food group in early summer (78% volume (V), 100% frequency occurrence (F)) and mid-summer (80% V, 100% F). A significant dietary shift occurred in late summer, when lizards consumed predominantly plant material (63% V, 95.5% F), consisting primarily of seasonally abundant berries from the snow beard heath, Acrothamnus montanus. In contrast to similar-sized Egerniinae species, it appears L. guthega is capable of opportunistically shifting its diet towards plant material in response to temporal variation in resource availability. Furthermore, the prevalence of intact seeds in scats indicates L. guthega may play a significant role in seed dispersal. Understanding these trophic interactions will assist conservation management of L. guthega, allowing conditions for an already established captive colony to mimic the temporally variable diets present in situ, as well as informing revegetation initiatives aimed at maintaining and expanding wild populations.

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Factors affecting overwintering retreat-site selection in reptiles in an agricultural landscape

et al. 2023

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Context Understanding what characteristics influence retreat-site selection by fauna is critical for both habitat management and species conservation. Despite the documented ecological values of surface rocks, there is limited knowledge of the attributes of surface rock that contribute to their use in agricultural landscapes or during winter months when reptiles are brumating, activity patterns are reduced, and sheltering individuals are most vulnerable to disturbance. Objectives We surveyed reptiles sheltering beneath surface rocks in grazing farms in south-eastern Australia to address two questions: (i) What landscape factors influence the occurrence of reptiles over austral winter? (ii) What physical and thermal factors influence retreat-site selection? Methods We surveyed 14 sites, with three plots per site, stratified across a gradient of canopy cover. We measured landscape attributes of surveyed sites and thermal and physical characteristics of individual surface rocks to quantify relationships between the occurrence of reptiles in the landscape and the properties of retreats selected. Results We found that relatively small patches of surface rock can support high reptile numbers, with density estimates up to of 208 individuals per hectare. Reptile abundance was positively associated with increased elevation and limited canopy cover. Reptiles selected smaller rocks with high surface area to volume ratio, were minimally embedded in the soil, and rocks supporting few invertebrates. Conclusions Conserving cryptozoic reptiles in agricultural landscapes can be enhanced through the appropriate management and retention of surface rock. We discuss implications for reptile conservation and surface rock management in agricultural landscapes.

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Does Shelter Site Selection Aid Persistence of a Threatened Alpine Lizard? Assessing Liopholis guthega Populations a Decade after Severe Fire in Southeastern Australia

Cited by 11 publications

References 36 publications

Allopatric divergence drives the genetic structuring of an endangered alpine endemic lizard with a sky‐island distribution

Allopatric divergence drives the genetic structuring of an endangered alpine endemic lizard with a sky‐island distribution

Consistent temporal variation in the diet of an endangered alpine lizard across two south‐eastern Australian sky‐islands

Factors affecting overwintering retreat-site selection in reptiles in an agricultural landscape

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