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- Title
Ecosystem engineering by deep‐nesting monitor lizards.
- Authors
Doody, J. Sean; Soennichsen, Kari F.; James, Hugh; McHenry, Colin; Clulow, Simon
- Abstract
Species richness and abundance of burrow associates appeared to be higher in the larger warrens that are nested in traditionally (year after year), because they contained more open burrows with various burrow entrances and caved-in openings to the surface. Keywords: allogenic engineer; burrows; community; keystone species; refugia; reptile; Varanusgouldii; Varanuspanoptes EN allogenic engineer burrows community keystone species refugia reptile Varanusgouldii Varanuspanoptes 1 4 4 04/03/21 20210401 NES 210401 As the current biodiversity crisis approaches levels comparable to the rates of the five historical mass extinctions, increasing attention has focused on how to stop or slow species loss and preserve ecosystem function. Foremost, arriving invasive cane toads effectively remove yellow-spotted monitor (and anecdotally, Gould's monitor) from their ecosystems (Doody et al. 2017) and we have observed, but have not yet quantified, abandoned warrens without open burrows and their small animal communities. The warm, moist conditions (constant ~ 30°C, ~3% moisture by weight; Doody et al. 2015a) and the soil loosened by the yellow-spotted monitor and Gould's monitor were apparently ideal for eggs of other species.
- Subjects
LIZARDS; BIRD nests; INTRODUCED animals; ANIMAL ecology; ANIMAL communities; REPTILES; WILDLIFE conservation; BIOLOGICAL invasions
- Publication
Ecology, 2021, Vol 102, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
0012-9658
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ecy.3271