The benefits of habitat restoration for rock-dwelling velvet geckos Oedura lesueurii

Published source details Croak B.M., Webb J.K. & Shine R. (2013) The benefits of habitat restoration for rock-dwelling velvet geckos Oedura lesueurii. Journal of Applied Ecology, 50, 432-439.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Create or restore rock outcrops Action Link

Create or restore rock outcrops

A replicated, paired sites, controlled study in 2009–2010 on a sand plateau in New South Wales, Australia (Croak et al. 2013) found that sites restored with artificial rocks had higher abundances of adult, but not juvenile, velvet geckos Oedura lesueurii compared to unrestored sites, but juveniles had higher survival rates in restored sites. Adult gecko abundances were higher in sites restored by adding artificial rocks (12–23 individuals/site) compared to unrestored sites (2–7), whereas juvenile abundances tended to be similar (restored: 37, unrestored: 18). Juvenile survival rates were higher in restored (90% survival) than unrestored sites (80%), whereas adult survival rates were similar (restored: 92–93%, unrestored: 78–92%). Gecko abundances were similar underneath individual artificial and individual natural rocks (results reported as model outputs). Six rock outcrop sites were restored by adding 50 artificial rocks (fibre-reinforced cement 51 x 35 x 5 cm) to natural rocks (18 natural rocks on average/site). Each restored site was paired with a nearby (average 500 m apart) unrestored site (26 natural rocks). Reptiles were surveyed by turning all artificial and natural rocks and hand-capturing geckos monthly throughout 2009–2010. Geckos were toe clipped before being released.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)