Effect of grazing on the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata Daudin, 1802) (Squamata: Lacertidae) in the middle of moors.

Published source details Pernat A., Sellier Y., Préau C. & Beaune D. (2017) Effet du pâturage sur le lézard vert occidental (Lacerta biblineata Daudin, 1802) (Squamata: Lacertidae) en milieu de landes. Bulletin de la Societe Herpetologique de France, 161, 57-66.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Manage vegetation using livestock grazing Action Link
	Use prescribed burning: Grassland & shrubland Action Link

Manage vegetation using livestock grazing

A site comparison study in 2016 in an area of heathland in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (Pernat et al. 2017) found that one of six reptile species was more abundant in a site grazed by sheep than in sites that were burned 5–12 years previously, whereas the other five species were similarly abundant across all sites. More western green lizards Lacerta bilineata were found in the grazed area (1.5 lizards/site) than in any of the burned areas (0.1 lizards/site for all burned sites), whereas no difference was found between grazed or burned areas in the number of wall lizards Podarcis muralis (0–4 lizards/site) or the number of four snakes species (green whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus, viperine snake Natrix maura, grass snake Natrix natrix and European asp Vipera aspis; data not presented). An area of heathland (135 ha) was managed by annual sheep grazing or prescribed burning. One grazed site and three burned sites (all sites 8–10 ha) were selected (one each burned 5, 10 or 12 years ago). In 2016, a total of 96 cover boards (corrugated roofing tiles) were split between the four areas (24 boards/area), and 10 surveys were conducted in April–June. Reptiles found on or under cover boards were counted.

(Summarised by: William Morgan)
Use prescribed burning: Grassland & shrubland

A site comparison study in 2016 in an area of heathland in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (Pernat et al. 2017) found that one of six reptile species was less abundant in sites that were burned 5–12 years previously than in a site grazed by sheep, whereas the other five species were similarly abundant across all sites. Fewer western green lizards Lacerta bilineata were found in any of the burned sites (0.1 lizards/site for all burned sites) than in the grazed site (1.5 lizards/site), whereas no difference was found between burned or grazed sites in the number of wall lizards Podarcis muralis (0–4 lizards/site) or the number of four snakes species (green whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus, viperine snake Natrix maura, grass snake Natrix natrix and European asp Vipera aspis; data not presented). An area of heathland (135 ha) was managed by prescribed burning or annual sheep grazing. Three burned sites (one each burned 5, 10 or 12 years ago) and one grazed site (all sites 8–10 ha) were selected. In 2016, a total of 96 cover boards (corrugated roofing tiles) were split between the four areas (24 boards/area), and 10 surveys were conducted in April–June. Reptiles found on or under cover boards were counted.

(Summarised by: William Morgan)