Spatial and temporal effects of grazing management and rainfall on the vertebrate fauna of a tropical savanna

Published source details Kutt A.S., Vanderduys E.P. & O'Reagain P. (2012) Spatial and temporal effects of grazing management and rainfall on the vertebrate fauna of a tropical savanna. The Rangeland Journal, 34, 173-182.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Modify grazing regime: Forest, open woodland & savanna Action Link

Modify grazing regime: Forest, open woodland & savanna

A replicated, randomized, before-and-after study in 1999–2004 in open eucalyptus savanna in north-eastern Queensland, Australia (Kutt et al. 2012) found that different cattle stocking regimes had mixed effects on reptile abundance depending on the species. All results presented as model outputs. At medium stocking rates, dubious gecko Gehyra dubia and shaded-litter rainbow skink Carlia munda abundances increased over time. At high cattle stocking rates, terrestrial gecko Diplodactylus conspicillatus and north-eastern firetail skink Morethia taeniopleura abundances decreased over time. At medium and high stocking rates, Binoe’s prickly gecko Heteronotia binoei abundance increased, but decreased in variable/rotational stocking over time. Some species’ abundances varied depending on vegetation type (see paper for details). Sixteen 1 ha plots were established (>500 m apart) in a commercial livestock station (1,041 ha). Plots were grazed at moderate stocking (4 plots), heavy stocking (4 plots), or rotational/variable stocking rates (8 plots, see paper for details). Ground cover was either mainly silverleaf ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia (8 plots) or reid river box Eucalyptus brownii (8 plots). Reptiles were surveyed in November–April and May–October in 1999–2000 and 2003–2004 using drift fences with pitfall traps and visual encounter surveys. All plots were prescribed burned in 1999 and a second fire took place in the ironbark-dominated rotational/variable stocking plots in November 2001.

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)