Pasture height and crop direction influence reptile movement in an agricultural matrix
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Published source details
Kay G.M., Driscoll D.A., Lindenmayer D.B., Pulsford S.A. & Mortelliti A. (2016) Pasture height and crop direction influence reptile movement in an agricultural matrix. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 235, 164-171.
Published source details Kay G.M., Driscoll D.A., Lindenmayer D.B., Pulsford S.A. & Mortelliti A. (2016) Pasture height and crop direction influence reptile movement in an agricultural matrix. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 235, 164-171.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Raise mowing height Action Link |
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Raise mowing height
A replicated, site comparison study in 2014 in mixed crop and pastureland in south-eastern Australia (Kay et al. 2016) found that marbled geckos Christinus marmoratus did not navigate directly towards trees in tall-sward pastures, but did in shorter sward pasture. In long native or exotic pastures or in wheat Triticum vulgare or canola Brassica napus crops, marbled geckos did not orient directly towards a target tree, but did in short native or exotic pasture (results reported as statistical model outputs, see original paper for details). Individual wild arboreal geckos were released into fields with an isolated tree surrounded by different pasture or crop fields and direction of travel was recorded. The field types included long (average sward height >20 cm) and short (average sward height <10 cm) pastures dominated by either native or exotic plants, or one of two cereal crops (wheat or canola; 6 total field types). Lizards were released in three fields/type (>2 km apart; 18 total fields). Geckos were caught from the same landscape but >5 km away from the study site. Individual animals were marked with fluorescent powder and tracked for 6 hours after release.
(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)
