Study

Some effects of off-road vehicles and sheep grazing on lizard populations in the mojave desert

  • Published source details Busack S.D. & Bury R.B. (1974) Some effects of off-road vehicles and sheep grazing on lizard populations in the mojave desert. Biological Conservation, 6, 179-183.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Cease livestock grazing: Grassland & shrubland

Action Link 		Reptile Conservation
  1. Cease livestock grazing: Grassland & shrubland

    A site comparison study (year not provided) in the Mojave Desert California, USA (Busack & Bury 1974) found that an ungrazed site had twice the number of lizards and two more species compared to a grazed site. Results were not statistically tested. In total, 36 lizards from five species were recorded in an ungrazed site (4 desert horned lizards Phrynosoma platyrhinos, 6 zebra-tailed lizards Callisaurus draconoides, 3 long-nosed leopard lizards Gambelia wislizenii, 11 common side-blotched lizards Uta stansburiana, 12 western whiptails Aspidoscelis tigris) compared to 17 lizards from three species in a grazed site (11 zebra-tailed lizards, 5 common side-blotched lizards, 1 western whiptail). Lizard surveys were carried out in May in a 100 x 100 m plot in one site with no grazing and in one site heavily grazed by sheep.

    (Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)

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