Artificial burrows with basal chambers are preferred by pygmy bluetongue lizards, Tiliqua adelaidensis
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Date
2013
Authors
Staugas, Elijah J
Fenner, Aaron
Ebrahimi, Mehregan
Bull, Christopher Michael
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Brill Academic Publishers
Rights
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2013
Rights Holder
Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden
Abstract
Natural refuges are sometimes supplemented with artificial refuges to enhance populations of endangered species, or to improve the success of translocation and relocation programs. The design and structure of these artificial structures should incorporate key features of natural refuges. We aimed to improve the design of artificial burrows currently used in the conservation of the pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis, by comparing burrows with or without a basal chamber. We found that lizards chose burrows with chambers significantly more often, but that neither the size of the chamber, nor the substrate lining the chamber influenced the choice. Incorporating a basal chamber into the design of artificial burrows should provide more favourable artificial refuges for these lizards and should be incorporated into future conservation management programs.
Description
Author version made available in accordance with the Publisher's policy
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Citation
Staugas EJ, Fenner AL, Ebrahimi M, Bull CM (2013) Artificial burrows with basal chambers are preferred by pygmy bluetongue lizards. Amphibia Reptilia 34(1), 114-118