Feeling the pressure at home: Predator activity at the burrow entrance of an endangered arid‐zone skink

Abstract

Habitat modification and invasive species are among the most important contemporary drivers of biodiversity loss. These two threatening processes are often studied independently and few studies have focused on how they interact to influence species declines. Here we assess the predation pressure placed on the threatened great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei) and how this interacts with fire-induced habitat modifications. We collected daily track data of potential predators for 1 month at 30 great desert skink burrow-systems where vegetation cover varied significantly after experimental burns. We used these data to evaluate potential predation pressure at the burrow-system and assess whether fire influenced predator pressure. We supplemented this analysis by documenting predation via the inspection of large mammalian predator scats collected from great desert skink habitat. The level of feral cat activity at a burrow-system entrance was significantly higher than that of any other potential predator, however fire had no effect on the visitation rates of feral cats, dingoes or large snakes to great desert skink burrow-systems. The remains of great desert skink were found significantly more frequently in feral cat scats, compared to fox and dingo scats. We provide the first direct evidence that feral cats are a significant predator for great desert skink, thus supporting the hypothesis that feral cat predation is a key threatening process. Feral cat activity was not influenced by small-scale experimental burns, however, this does not preclude an effect of larger scale fires and we recommend further research exploring this possible interaction.

Under the weather?—The direct effects of climate warming on a threatened desert lizard are mediated by their activity phase and burrow system

“…Thus, L. kintorei and the wide range of other taxa that use their burrow systems or that construct their own, even if only at depths of 30 cm, are likely to be buffered from the direct effects of climate warming on body temperature. For these reasons we conclude that threatening processes other than the direct effect of climate warming must be sought to explain the observed loss of L. kintorei at some localities (Cadenhead, Kearney, Moore, McAlpin, & Wintle, ; Moore, Kearney, Paltridge, McAlpin, & Stow, , ).…”

Identifying a surrogate metric for monitoring the population status of a secretive habitat specialist, the heath skinkLiopholis multiscutata,in south‐eastern Australia

“…; Coventry & Robertson ). Its multi‐entranced warrens are typical of many congeneric species (McAlpin et al ; Fenner et al ; Cogger ; Moore et al ; Thorn et al ) and characteristically located at the bases of small‐medium shrubs.…”

Location of long‐term communal burrows of a threatened arid‐zone lizard in relation to soil and vegetation

“…Although there is well‐founded concern about the potentially negative effect of fire on great desert skink populations; to date the evidence for this is still inconclusive (see Moore et al . , ). Fire is a regular occurrence in spinifex grass lands and, because skinks occupy burrows over a number of years, exposure to fire during the period of burrow occupancy is almost certain.…”

“…Recent decline has been mainly attributed to introduced predators, especially feral cats ( Felis catus ) (Moore et al . ), possibly in combination with inappropriate fire regimes (Moore et al . ; Cadenhead et al .…”

“…However, there was no evidence that the activity of feral cats, the most significant predator of great desert skinks at Moore et al . 's () study sites, increased around burrow sites post‐fire.…”