Habitat avoidance of an introduced weed by native lizards

Valentine, Leonie (2006) Habitat avoidance of an introduced weed by native lizards. Austral Ecology, 31 (6). pp. 732-735.

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Abstract

Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) is an environmental weed that frequently invades riparian habitats in northern Australia. I examined the habitat use of lizards in riparian and woodland environments comprised of native and rubber vine vegetation. Rubber vine was a major component of vegetation in the riparian habitat (approximately 40%), but only a minor component of woodland habitat (approximately 5%). Of 132 lizards, none were observed using rubber vine vegetation in riparian habitats, significantly less than expected, and only one lizard was observed in rubber vine vegetation in the woodland habitat. As rubber vine vegetation contains features that superficially resemble native habitat used by lizards, such as leaf litter, the avoidance of rubber vine by lizards suggests that rubber vine has underlying characteristics that create a suboptimal environment for lizards.

Item ID: 3746
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1442-9993
Keywords: Cryptostegia grandiflora; environmental weed; invasive species; Lizard Island; habitat use; riparian; rubber vine
Date Deposited: 30 Oct 2009 01:11
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0608 Zoology > 060899 Zoology not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9604 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species > 960499 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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