Premium
The impact of fire regimes on populations of an endangered lizard in montane south‐eastern A ustralia
Author(s) -
Gorissen Sarsha,
Mallinson Jacqueline,
Greenlees Matthew,
Shine Richard
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/aec.12190
Subject(s) - swamp , skink , endangered species , ecology , threatened species , habitat , geography , lizard , vegetation (pathology) , biology , medicine , pathology
Abstract The B lue M ountains water skink ( E ulamprus leuraensis ; S cincidae) is restricted to less than 40 fragmented swamp sites, all within the B lue M ountains and N ewnes P lateau areas of N ew S outh W ales, A ustralia. Climate change is expected to increase fire frequency in the area, potentially degrading habitat quality for this endangered reptile. We quantified lizard abundances in 12 swamps using standardized surveys, and constructed a G lobal I nformation S ystem ( GIS ) database to determine fire‐histories for each swamp since 1967. The abundance of B lue M ountains water skinks was negatively correlated with fire frequency, but not with time since fire. Indirect impacts of fire (mediated via shifts in vegetation density, moisture levels, prey availability and post‐fire predation) may be more important than direct effects in these cool, moist habitats. Although lizards were less common in swamps close to urban areas, and less common in frequently burnt areas, viable populations of this endangered reptile still persist even in anthropogenically disturbed swamps and in swamps that have experienced up to four fires in 20 years. Future research could usefully extend these analyses to other swamps in the locality, and explore the broader impacts of fire regimes on the distinctive flora and fauna of this threatened ecological community.