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dc.contributor.authorVirkki, Diana A
dc.contributor.authorCuong, Tran
dc.contributor.authorCastley, J Guy
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T15:10:35Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T15:10:35Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.date.modified2013-06-11T00:26:42Z
dc.identifier.issn0022-1511
dc.identifier.doi10.1670/11-225
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/48248
dc.description.abstractLantana (Lantana camara L., Verbenaceae) is an invasive species of global interest that threatens more than 300 Australian plant and animal species of conservation significance. Reptiles may be at high risk due to their ground-dwelling habit and reliance on microhabitat structure. We examined the effects of lantana, and its management, on reptile assemblages in a wet sclerophyll forest in southeast Queensland, Australia. We compared reptile assemblages across four treatments: (i) manual clearing and herbicide application; (ii) herbicide application followed by prescribed burn; (iii) untreated lantana thickets; and (iv) wet sclerophyll forest. Plots treated with herbicide and then burned were structurally more diverse than manually cleared sites and supported a greater diversity of reptiles. No species occurred exclusively in untreated lantana habitats; however, these plots supported relatively high abundances of rare species, particularly Challenger Skinks (Saproscincus rosei). Lantana also had a higher species richness compared to manually cleared and sclerophyll forest. The use of lantana as habitat by a number of species highlights the need to consider the importance of these habitats for fauna prior to implementing management options. Herbicide application followed by prescribed burning appears to be an ideal approach to manage lantana due to the increased heterogeneity and regrowth of native vegetation, an option which supported more diverse reptile communities. Our results caution against the whole scale clearing of lantana from invaded areas, as these habitats continue to support reptile communities including threatened species. Nevertheless, by treating lantana with herbicide and prescribed fire, reptile community structure might be maintained.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.description.sponsorshipNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
dc.format.extent450354 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherSociety for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
dc.publisher.placeUnited States
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationY
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom177
dc.relation.ispartofpageto185
dc.relation.ispartofissue2
dc.relation.ispartofjournalJournal of Herpetology
dc.relation.ispartofvolume46
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchBiosecurity science and invasive species ecology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEnvironmental management
dc.subject.fieldofresearchWildlife and habitat management
dc.subject.fieldofresearchZoology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode410202
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode410404
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode410407
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3109
dc.titleReptile Responses to Lantana Management in a Wet Sclerophyll Forest, Australia
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.facultyGriffith Sciences, Griffith School of Environment
gro.rights.copyright© 2012 SSAR. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
gro.date.issued2012
gro.hasfulltextFull Text
gro.griffith.authorCastley, Guy G.


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