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RAUK - Archived Forum - Is the Common Lizard thriving?

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Is the Common Lizard thriving?:

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Howard Inns
Member
Joined: 01 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1


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Posted: 01 Apr 2003

I have a big concern that the Common Lizard is in a rapid decline.  Many of the populations I and other herpetologists have known for 20 years plus are nothing like they were.

Does anybody know of any sites where they have noted a population increase?


Howard
David Bird
Forum Specialist
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 515


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Posted: 01 Apr 2003
Howard,
              I have a site which never had any Common Lizards on only Sand Lizards until a few years ago, we now do see them on most survey days. I have certainly seen reasonable numbers on some of the small urban sites but not so many on some of the larger heathland sites as I remember seeing in the past. I am sure that the reduction by grazing of some of the Molinia and other grass areas, where I used to see most of them may have helped the decline.

Dave

British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker.
Gemma Fairchild
Krag Committee
Joined: 14 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 193


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Posted: 02 Apr 2003

I have observed a site in Surrey, part of a large heathland. The actual spot is in a valley floor and wooded. 20 years ago Common Lizards were very plentiful around a large pond and amongst tussocks of an adjacent west facing inclined and un-shaded meadow. Last year I sighted only a single male. Habitat changes have mostly been bracken growth around the pond and some infilling with birch, the meadow has however changed little in the past 20 years to explain the reduction in the population. The local Adder population appears to have declined also, Grass Snake and Slow-worm numbers have remained steady.


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Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 02 Apr 2003
I often visit a large Forestry Commission site which has lots of 'pockets' of common lizards. They seem to favour different areas each year- they'll disappear very quickly from overgrown or shaded areas, but increase in recently opened-out areas. I don't know whether the overall population is in increase or decline, though.
Tony Phelps
Forum Specialist
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
No. of posts: 575


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Posted: 23 Apr 2003

The damp margins containing good expanses of Molinia is a vital habitat on heathland sites for common lizard and I agree with dave that over grazing has depleted this resource. Surely one indication is the fact that if only adults are sighted in an area then this could be an indication of decline. Surveying for this species during the peak birth period or just after would be most beneficial. At one site on a NNR in mid Wales we counted 300 neos in just two hours.

With surveying in general there appears to be a lack of experience when it comes to identifying mal/femal/immature of all species, or at least recording this. Someone sent me records of up to five smooth snakes under one tin but could not identify sex or status. Nice records but not much use, does not say much about population structure. Also, experience has shown that large groups of adults (snakes) are often an indication of decline. Witness some urban heaths in latter stages of decline.

 

Tony


GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


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Posted: 18 Aug 2003
Howard, I have a population that has formed over the last 30 years at a brown field site that appears to be very extensive and thriving, email if you want the details. administrator37851.922662037
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Herpetologic
Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2003
No. of posts: 35


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Posted: 09 Sep 2003

I am currently working on a undisturbed grassland site roughly 105 metres long by 70 metres wide which ahs a really good population of Viviparous Lizards unfortuantely the site is going to be developed.

I estimate that around 500 to 600 lizards may be on the site we have translocated around 230 so far to patch of good land on a golf course with a new hibernaculum and we will be managing the population and of course monitoring the site over the next 3 to 5 years. The site has been left untouched for about 40 years!!!

The management of land for nature conservation (mowing or heavy grazing) has a detrimental effect on reptiles especially viviparous lizards

I am currently surveying a Hampshire Wildlife Trust Nature reserve which has good populations of V lizards, Slowworms, Adders and Grass snakes within clumps of Molina, and bramble bushes i am hopefully going to influence the management of the grazing regime to help the reptiles i will keep you informed of any success

There have been declines of V Lizards in Essex which is worrying as these sites are no tover managed?

 


GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: 09 Sep 2003
The description of undisturbed grassland is similar to the site I referred to. Unfortunately it also has the shadow of development looming. Would you associate declines in Essex with farming methods Jon? I would have thought a general loss of insect numbers would have a huge impact, I would note that the sites where I see reptile populations thrive are often remote from pesticides/herbicides due to topography. administrator37873.455625
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
David Bird
Forum Specialist
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 515


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Posted: 09 Sep 2003
Saw the post where the terms Good populations of reptile species within clumps of Molinia   and Grazing regime were about the same site. The grazing that some E.N regions and other managers like is to break down the monoculture of Molinia and hopefully increase the diversity of plants, this also means the destruction of the tussocks which are so important for the inverts and reptiles. There are several sites where overgrazing has caused a dissappearance in the species mentioned. As far as I have witnessed only a very low density of grazing animals which seems to have no effect on the Molinia stand (so why bother) shows a continuation in the high reptile population. Good Luck.
British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker.
Herpetologic
Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2003
No. of posts: 35


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Posted: 15 Sep 2003

 

Yes this seems to be the case. An example of a really good reptile habitat in Essex is the Langdon Hills. This part of basildon hasnt really seen agriculture changes like the rest of Essex.

good populations of all four species of reptile occur in the nature conservation areas in Langdon Hills. Other parts have been turned into housing estates or have been turned to some form of agriculture or very heavy horse grazing.

Of course other sites in Essex which are very good inect sites and contain good populations of lizards are the derelict brownfield sites such as Northwick Road in Canvey and Shell Haven across the water etc.

What colour varieties of Viviparous Lizard have people seen? we have several Green lizard sightings that I suspect were actually green Viviparous Lizards - I have seen green, orange and very dark brown lizards (adults) has there been any albino or other colours in Lizards?

 

 

 


j gaughan
Senior Member
Joined: 04 May 2003
No. of posts: 57


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Posted: 07 Dec 2003
Two Surrey sites, known to each have a high LV population 35+ yrs. ago, echo some of the above views :
(1) small, isolated heath-outcrop in chalk woodland nr. Chilworth. Still supports a thriveing colony with AF (recent decline) & NN (occasional). Undisturbed except for recent 'well-meaning' habitat management.
(2) long roadverge with small-scale hedgerow bordering agri. fields nr. Godstone. No lizards (1989). Vegetation reduced with sparser base, prob. 'herbicide sprayed' on both sides.

After the recent BHS 'Snakes' meeting, John Pickett informed me of the sad, recent crashes in the reptiles on the open 'plains' of Epping Forest, Essex, due to vegetation damage / grazing pressure. At one site ( _where i caught my first adder), LV are in any numbers around the margins of a small pond which is 'fenced off'.

Jon, your ref. to 'good insect (brown) sites' holds true for an unique colony of Dorset Sand Lizards, which here are exceptionally high in numbers & body size, prob. the biggest and not a sprig of heather in sight.

On Viv. colouration, i've had 'bright' green (Dartmoor, 1977), a 'uniform' sandy brown and 'melanic' (black) examples from Frensham, Hankley & nr. Dorking.They also occured at that Godstone site.

John

- Is the Common Lizard thriving?

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