Remnant vegetation, plantings and fences are beneficial for reptiles in agricultural landscapes

Abstract

1. Managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity conservation is increasingly difficult as land use is modified or intensified for production. Finding ways to mitigate the negative effects of agriculture on biodiversity is therefore critical. We asked the question: How do remnant patches, paddock types and grazing regimes influence reptile assemblages in a grazing landscape? Accepted ArticleThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.2. At 12 sites, we surveyed reptiles and environmental covariates in remnant woodland patches and in four paddock types: a) grazed pasture, b) linear plantings, c) coarse woody debris added to grazed pasture and d) fences between grazed pasture. Each site was either continuously or rotationally grazed.3. Remnant vegetation and other vegetation attributes such as tree cover and leaf litter greatly influenced reptiles. We recorded higher reptile abundance and species richness in areas with more tree cover and leaf litter. For rare species (captured in ≤4 sites <70 captures) there were 5.7 more animals and 2.6 more species in sites with 50% woody cover within 3 km compared to 5% woody cover.4. The abundance and richness of rare species, and one common species differed between paddock types and were higher in linear plantings and fence transects compared to coarse woody debris and pasture transects. Synthesis and applications.Grazed paddocks, particularly those with key features such as fences and plantings can provide habitat for reptiles. This suggests that discrete differentiation between patch and matrix does not apply for reptiles in these systems.Management to promote reptile conservation in agricultural landscapes should involve protecting existing remnant vegetation, regardless of amount; and promote key habitat features of trees, leaf litter and shrubs. Establishing plantings and fences is important as they support high numbers of less common reptiles and may facilitate reptiles to move through and use greater amounts of the landscape.

Reptile responses to anthropogenic habitat modification: A global meta‐analysis

“…Nonetheless, the mostly negative responses of squamates to agriculture and livestock grazing is worrying given that these industries cover c. 37% of the land area of the world (FAO, 2018). Wherever possible, it is important that farming practices that promote reptile diversity and abundance are implemented, such as retaining or restoring woody cover between cultivated areas (Nopper, Lauströer, Rödel, & Ganzhorn, 2017; Pulsford, Driscoll, Barton, & Lindenmayer, 2017).…”

Reptiles and frogs use most land cover types as habitat in a fine‐grained agricultural landscape

“…The farms were grazed under either continuous or rotational grazing regimes but, as the only difference was a steeper increase in frog species richness in continuous grazing regimes compared to rotational as annual rainfall increased, we do not explore this further in this paper (see Pulsford ; Pulsford et al . 2017a).…”

“…; Pulsford et al . 2017a). However, it is uncertain whether reptiles and frogs perceive paddocks as habitat or movement pathways.…”

Natal dispersal of tree sloths in a human‐dominated landscape: Implications for tropical biodiversity conservation

“…Corridors have been promoted as a tool for increasing connectivity, and thus biodiversity conservation, in fragmented landscapes (Baum, Haynes, Dillemuth, & Cronin, 2004;Haddad et al, 2003). Corridors can facilitate individual movements among patches (Gillies & St. Clair, 2008;Ibarra-Macias, Robinson, & Gaines, 2011), promote gene flow (Blaum & Wichmann, 2007;Haddad et al, 2003) and increase local population sizes (Laurance, 1990;Pulsford, Driscoll, Barton, & Lindenmayer, 2017) across a wide range of temperate taxa and ecosystems. Our study adds to a small, but growing, body of literature demonstrating the use of corridors by animals in modified tropical forests.…”