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Sand lizard reintorduction sucess: |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39  View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 13 Dec 2009 Hi all, Does anyone know of a paper regarding the sucess rates of captive breeding/repatriation of Sand lizards within the UK? I have recently read the below paper and was curious as to whether any follow-up article was written. Edgar, P. 1990. A captive breeding and release programme for Sand lizards and Natterjack toads at Marwell Zoological Park: An appeal for sponsorship. British Herpetological Society Bulletin No. 31.
Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 13 Dec 2009 Hi Kevin, I don't have a paper, but I do have the data for Surrey. There is the small issue of how to define success  .Some few early re/introductions were not successful, due to the release of adults, rather than the current process of releasing successive waves of juveniles. There were also some habitat suitability issues. All recent releases (say last 15 years?) have 'taken' with adult animals present and breeding. There are three things which need to come together:
hth. Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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Iowarth Admin Group Joined: 12 Apr 2004 No. of posts: 222 View other posts by Iowarth |
Posted: 14 Dec 2009 Hi Kevin Steve's answer is correct in essence. In more detail, at the end of LAST year:- "To date there have been 66 sand lizard translocations of which 66% have been successful, 13.8% are ongoing, 13.8% have been damaged/burnt/lack of management, 3% failed due to poor habitat choice of release area and 3% are currently unknown. The translocation programme has successfully re-introduced the species to both heathland and dune habitats in 11 vice-counties in England and Wales. In 7 of these vice-counties the species had been lost . In total over 8000 animals have been released. " Although there is no precise definition of success criteria the successes above are measured by monitoring. Quite simply, if animals have spread significantly beyond the release location, one can be confident of seeing them in suitable conditions in the same density as one would expect in similar habitat with a "natural" and thriving colony and are reproducing into at least F2 we deem it a success. Consequently, there is no measurement until after completion of the full release cycle (typically 3 years) - in other words, in the 4th year after release. Thus (in part) the total of 16.8% where measurement is ongoing or "not known". Chris Chris Davis, Site Administrator Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme |
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AndyS Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2007 No. of posts: 95  View other posts by AndyS |
Posted: 14 Dec 2009 Again not a paper but some information from Marwell http://www.marwell.org.uk/RareUKLizardSuccess.asp |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 15 Dec 2009 Hi Guys, thanks for all the info. I know that it is perhaps one of the better examples of the long term "success" of repatriation projects regarding herpetofauna. I will gladly use this information in a lecture for my conservation students if this is ok? Regards Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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Iowarth Admin Group Joined: 12 Apr 2004 No. of posts: 222 View other posts by Iowarth |
Posted: 15 Dec 2009 Hi Kevin Certainly no problem from my viewpoint. And, in fact, we reckon that it is probably the most successful such programmes in existence. Chris Chris Davis, Site Administrator Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme |
- Sand lizard reintorduction sucess |