Reptiles in restored agricultural landscapes: the value of linear strips, patches and habitat condition

Published source details Jellinek S., Parris K.M., McCarthy M.A., Wintle B.A. & Driscoll D.A. (2014) Reptiles in restored agricultural landscapes: the value of linear strips, patches and habitat condition. Animal Conservation, 17, 544-554.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Create uncultivated margins around arable or pasture fields Action Link

Create uncultivated margins around arable or pasture fields

A replicated, site comparison study in 2008–2009 on agricultural land in Victoria, Australia (Jellineck et al. 2014) found that revegetating linear habitat strips did not increase reptile species richness and abundance compared to cleared or remnant strips of habitat, nor was there a difference between revegetating in strips or patches. Revegetated linear strips had similar reptile richness and abundance (richness: 0.1–0.5 species/strip, abundance: 0.1–0.4 individuals/strip) compared to cleared (0.2–0.3, 0.3–0.4) and remnant strips (0.4–0.5, 0.3–0.5). Revegetated linear strips also had similar richness and abundances to revegetated patches (data not reported). Reptiles were monitored in five locations in each of two regions on or bordering agricultural land. Drift fences with pitfall traps were set out in sites classified as: revegetated linear strip (using native plants 8–14 years before), cleared linear strip, remnant linear strip, and remnant patches (10 traps/site). Surveys were carried out for five consecutive days/month in January–March 2008 and 2009. Remnant patches and enlarged remnant patches revegetated with native vegetation were also surveyed in five different locations in the same two regions using the same methods.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)