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Monitoring the Common Lizard: |
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Andy Member Joined: 30 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 4  View other posts by Andy |
Posted: 02 Aug 2003 Dear All. I have started to keep records of the common lizards and slow worms sighted in my garden. I have noticed that members are posting sightings of various reptiles. Other postings I have noticed members ask if any research has been done in particular areas (e.g. slow worms on/under tins). I am a science teacher, teach biology to Alevel and having completed a BSc and and MSc in Biological Sciences I so have a fair understanding of ecology and scientific research. So I was wondering if there is any useful research I could do, definitely over the next 4 weeks possibly over a longer period. Immediate questions perhaps members may be able to help me with: a) What is the basic useful information for a survey? (Currently I record, date, time, weather, location and am trying to map the locations of individuals over time). The population lives on a piece of overgrown land in my garaden (anout 2mx3m) this backs onto a much larger area of very overgrown grassland. b) Currently I rarely disturb the lizards, I have handled one injured (caught by my cat c) Any ideas of mini projects? (I have access to a variety of data loggers, digital light meters, temperature sensors etc). Thanks in anticipation. PS I tried to add a picture of three of the lizard population but can't cut and paste, any advice on how to post images in the forum!
Andy Grevatt, Brighton, East Sussex UK |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 02 Aug 2003 Hi Andy, I'll leave the answers about surveys to those with more experience, but to post up a picture click on the tree icon If you don't have a website to host the pictures from, email me the pictures and i'll mount them on the RAUK site and post them in the appropriate thread. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Andy Member Joined: 30 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 4 View other posts by Andy |
Posted: 06 Aug 2003 Thanks for the tip Gemma - I think I've done it. This is actually a pic of a very lucky moment this morning. I usually have my camera in the garden with me, and heard a struggle in the border, to my surprise this common lizard had just caught a spider and I managed to get a pic of it!!!! Hope you like. Andy Grevatt, Brighton, East Sussex UK |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 06 Aug 2003 That's a great shot, haven't seen one before where a Common Lizard has just caught some prey, this is one I snapped today at a site in Kent we found earlier this year. I've just found out it is earmarked for development, which will be a real shame if it goes ahead as there is an extensive population of Common Lizards and I suspect some of my favourite snakes as well, though far too hot to see any today. I'll be putting something up about the site when I know more about the planning proposal and how much objection there is to it.
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416  View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 08 Aug 2003 Great pics Andy and Gemma  .
Alan O-> O+> |
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calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351 View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 10 Aug 2003 If you are recording animals in Kent, I hope all records will be passed on the the relevant local recorder  Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Andy Member Joined: 30 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 4 View other posts by Andy |
Posted: 10 Aug 2003 I live in Brighton, East Sussex. I had no idea there was a local recording officer or how to contact them. Any suggestions? Andy Grevatt, Brighton, East Sussex UK |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 10 Aug 2003 Andy, Sussex NO RECORDER previous details removed (sorry misread Brighton as Bristol originally) Froglife have this info page on recording that might be useful, there is a link giving a list of regional recorders http://www.froglife.fsnet.co.uk/FAS/5.htm Also check out the links page on RAUK for other groups who require records.
Lee, will do Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
- Monitoring the Common Lizard |
and a couple of "slow" juveniles), but record sightings backed up by digital photos when I can. What is a good way of estimating population size? Is it ok to catch and handle them? - is it necessary?
in the Post Reply box and add the URL address of the picture to the text prompt box that pops up and click OK. The pictures need to be mounted on a host website to have a URL. The picture should appear before you submit the posting to the forum, if it doesn't it wont appear in the posting.
