Current herpetology projects
NZ Lizards Database: Electronic Encyclopedia and Annotated Bibliography of New Zealand Lizards
Otago skink
Project Leader: Trent Bell
Funded by the Department of Conservation’s TFBIS programme
Information and literature on New Zealand’s lizard fauna was dispersed and difficult to access for the greater majority of conservation managers and researchers, often with critical information and data buried within a vast amount of ‘grey literature’. Considering that conservation management and research remain a high priority for most species, the need to open up access to information to improve conservation, management and research progress nationally is being addressed by the development of an up-to-date central resource. The NZ Lizards database provides accessibility to this information and knowledge on lizards for all sectors of society, with both short-term and long-term benefits:
- Short-term outcome: immediate information on the 96+ known species, most of which have never had species information or photographs available in a single readily accessible location or format.
- Long-term outcome: improved effectiveness and productivity in lizard research, conservation, and management. Existing knowledge is made more accessible, and enables identification of knowledge gaps for future research. Improved lizard conservation effort through improved information accessibility.
This resource consists of two parts: encylopaedic species synopses for immediate indepth information on all species, and an annotated bibliography where the literature from 1769 to the present day can be searched. The two parts enable different groups of stakeholders to retrieve the information necessary to make progress in conservation management or research.
Dynamic species synopses
The dynamic species synopses (literature and images) summarises all knowledge about each species to aid conservation, management and research outcomes. These synopses describe all native lizard species of New Zealand, their taxonomic status, distribution, conservation requirements, and factors such as ecology, behaviour, and population dynamics. The synopses also include undescribed species if evidence for species status is considered strong by leading herpetologists.
Dynamic and ‘query searchable’ annotated bibliography
The annotated bibliography section is digitised and searchable update of Tony Whitaker’s and Bruce Thomas’s extensive 1989 publication [215 pp.] New Zealand Lizards – an Annotated Bibliography produced by the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). This work covers the literature record from 1769 to 1989 but has not been updated since or republished.
The database also includes the SRARNZ (Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in NZ) Herpetological Record from 1992 to the present (bibliography without annotation notes) .
The gap years between the two bibliographies (1990–1991) are filled, and where possible, further annotations will be added.
Enter the NZ Lizards database »
Reproductive technologies for conservation of native frogs and lizards
McCann's skink
Project Leaders: Frank Molinia and Trent Bell, Landcare Research
Funded by Herpetology Capability
This project platforms the development of reproductive technologies for conserving declining or threatened New Zealand frogs and lizards.
In Archey’s frog, a non-invasive method is being developed for assigning sex of individuals. Ultrasonography, measurement of reproductive hormone metabolites in urine and/or faeces, and techniques for inducing sperm-release are currently being evaluated. The information gained will be used to enhance captive breeding success of frogs held at Auckland Zoo.
Assisted breeding techniques will be developed in a model lizard species, McCann’s skink. These include: a non-destructive method of semen collection; standardised methods of semen evaluation, including development of a medium that optimally supports sperm function; and artificial insemination techniques. The information gained will be used to underpin development of similar protocols for threatened lizards (e.g. grand and Otago skinks).
Closed-cell-foam covers as an artificial cover object for forest lizards
Closed cell foam cover on tree, Great Barrier Island
Project Leader: Trent Bell, Landcare Research
Funded by Conservation Flagships IO – Bruce Burns, Landcare Research
Forest lizard surveying and monitoring is currently one of the most difficult tasks in conservation management and research, and at present there are no widely accepted and reliable methods. The development of a statistically reliable and effective monitoring method for forest lizards has been a challenging issue for some time. The monitoring of forest lizards has been identified as a high priority for the Department of Conservation especially for the endangered chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum) and data-deficient striped skink (O. striatum). Baseline population monitoring of forest lizards for conservation projects such as ‘mainland island’ sanctuaries and translocations are also a high priority.
In this project, we are trialling covers constructed from closed cell foam (CCF) as a potentially new device on which to build survey and monitoring protocols for forest lizards. Sheets of CCF, usually measuring 1 m wide, 40 cm long, and 5 mm thick, have been installed on tree trunks as artificial cover objects for lizards.
Lizards have been recorded utilising bark and hollows on trees as refugia, and the CCF might mimic this natural choice of microsite. The lightweight, flexible, foam rubber material can be fitted easily to follow the contour of the tree trunk, and this will provide sufficient gaps of 3-6 mm between the bark of the tree and the cover object. The length and width of the CCF covers is designed for spread across the tree trunk, and may even completely cover some trunks. This is expected to increase the chances of foraging lizards coming across the covers.
We needed to trial the acceptability and occupancy rate of this device at sites where lizards are reasonably abundant and, ideally, with a range of different species present. Three study sites were chosen: (1) Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington (198 covers; forest and common geckos present); (2) Windy Hill, Great Barrier Island (200 covers; forest, common, and Pacific geckos, chevron and striped skinks present); (3) Fanal Island, Mokohinau group (80–120 covers; Mokohinau and Duvaucel’s geckos present).
These covers will be checked in March–April 2008 for lizards occupying the shelters under the cover. Lizards captured under the covers will be identified, measured, sexed, weighed and released immediately.
If lizard occupancy is proven to be good or even excellent in these trials, further trials will be undertaken to develop a statistically robust experimental design that can then be more widely applied to ‘mainland island’ projects, and for testing on endangered skink populations on Great Barrier Island. The outcome of this research project will be presented at a SRARNZ Biennial Conference in 2009, and published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology or similar. Funding from the Department of Conservation will be sought for these latter trials, and if funded, the outcome of these experiments will be published in internationally refereed journals.
Assistance to Grand and Otago Skink Recovery Programme
Grand skink
Project Leader: Grant Norbury, Landcare Research
Funded by the Department of Conservation
Grand and Otago skinks are among New Zealand’s largest skinks. Both species are predicted to be functionally extinct on the wild in 10 years in the absence of management. The Department of Conservation are undertaking an intensive ‘research by management’ trial in an effort to see whether removing all perceivable threats (mainly introduced predators) is enough the reverse the skinks’ decline. Captive management is now a top priority as insurance against losing the species in the wild.
Landcare Research is represented on the Grand and Otago Skink Recovery Group, and co-authored the Recovery Plan with DOC staff (see http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/conservation/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/grand-otago-skink-recovery-plan-draft.pdf.).
South Island Oligosoma Taxonomic Units
Barrier skink
Project Leaders: Trent Bell (Landcare Research) and Geoffrey Patterson
Funded by the Department of Conservation’s Taxonomic Units Fund
Taxonomic resolution of the New Zealand lizard fauna is presently an issue for both conservation managers and taxonomists. What defines a species currently varies between experts and subsequent finds of other skink populations creates further confusion. This creates resource allocation issues for conservation management given that ‘taxonomically significant units’ and their population sizes, ranges or conservation status cannot be readily determined from potentially indeterminate cryptic species existing in different locations. Resolution of taxonomy therefore requires formal publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
In this project, surveys, data and voucher collection will occur for five possible new species in the south-western South Island (Fiordland, West Coast and Wakitipu areas). These species are:
Oligosoma sp ‘Barrier skink’
O. sp. ‘mahogany skink’
O. sp. ‘Okuru skink’
O. sp. ‘Te Kakahu skink’
O. sp. ‘Eyre Mountains skink’
Taxonomic resolution and their subsequent conservation for both the Barrier and mahogany skinks were given urgent priority by DOC Southland in May 2007 (Henderson 2007; Goodman in prep.). Conservation status of at least two of the four lizard species listed here are considered likely to be critical given that mammalian predators have been identified within the area (Bell et al. 2007).
This research will assist the decision-making process for conservation management. For example, the taxonomic resolution of the Sinbad/Barrier and mahogany skinks and accurate conservation assessment may or may not lend support for including the Sinbad Valley in Operation ARK, or have the entire valley become a ‘mainland island’ project. The research will also assist in determining whether to align further science research funding for alpine mammal research in Fiordland, for which research is required in both the Sinbad and Barrier Knob areas. The Okuru and Eyre mountains skinks will be ‘flagged’ for conservation assessment, including surveys for distribution and population status in identified habitats. Key resource allocation will become more clear as species’ status become more definite.