A new study by The University of Reading and Froglife highlights the impact of constructing Basking Banks on four UK reptile species and the implications for reserve management.
Researchers studying reptiles as part of a long-term monitoring programme found that in the 12 months after constructing basking banks only viviparous lizards were observed near them. However, in subsequent years, barred grass snakes increased near the banks and slow worms were observed for the first time. In nearby areas (approx. 100m away) with no basking bank construction, European adder observations increased and barred grass snake observations decreased. The basking banks created in this study were north-south facing, maximising their potential for thermoregulation, and were also full of holes and crevices that may be attractive to reptiles for predator avoidance.
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In subsequent years of the basking banks being constructed, barred grass snakes increased near the banks and slow worms were observed for the first time.
“This is an interesting finding because it suggests the simple practical action of building basking banks can enhance local reptile diversity. We think reptiles probably used the banks even more extensively than was recorded, as they are good places to hide from researchers.” Dr Brian Pickles, University of Reading.
The study was conducted as a part of a long-term partnership between Froglife and The University of Reading and contributes towards Froglife’s commitment to testing one habitat management intervention per year. Froglife is an ambassador for The University of Cambridge’s “Conservation Evidence” project and this research will add to the available evidence on actions to support reptile conservation in the UK, which is currently very limited.
“It’s essential that we take action to protect reptiles in the UK; we hope that this study will inspire members of the public to get involved in reptile monitoring schemes, and also inspire site managers to set up similar surveys and manage habitats for the benefit of reptiles as well as other species.” Jenny Tse-Leon, Head of Conservation and Impact at Froglife.
The UK has six native reptile species, and all are legally protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006). Despite this, reptiles are the least recorded vertebrate taxon making population trends difficult to obtain for most reptile species, even the most common ones. Globally, the need for improved conservation action to tackle reptile declines is gaining wider recognition.
In Feb 2019 basking banks were created by Froglife with the goal of expanding the favourable habitat for the European adder and hopefully increasing their local population. Each bank replaced a patch of grass with a raised area of rock, brick, and bare earth with a roughly flat rectangular centre (approx. 1 x 2 m) and the longest sides facing north/south at a height of ~50 cm with ~45o downward slope. Coupled with a long-term reptile monitoring programme at the site, this enabled a 5-year before-after control-intervention study of the impact of basking bank creation on habitat use by four co-occurring UK reptile species: European adder (Vipera berus), barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica), slow worm (Anguis fragilis), and viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara).
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This small-scale study shows the utility and importance of performing reptile monitoring before as well as after management interventions.
Interestingly, while the intervention was targeted at European adders, the researchers found that adder numbers increased in the wider area rather than directly around the basking banks. The banks themselves became important for barred grass snakes on the site. This small-scale study shows the utility and importance of performing reptile monitoring before as well as after management interventions, and the authors suggest that similar studies would benefit from directly monitoring reptile use inside the basking banks where possible. Adding basking banks appears to be a low-cost intervention with benefits for local reptile populations that can be carried out with small teams of volunteers, so it could be a useful addition to charities and site managers operating with small budgets.
You can read the full paper here.
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Professor Trent Garner, researcher as ZSL’s Institute of Zoology said: “Adders are declining in numbers across Western Europe, and we need a better understanding how translocations could be used to reverse these declines and restore their numbers. Population genetics can be used to understand the more long term outcomes of translocations in terms of reproduction and population growth. Careful management and ongoing monitoring are key to ensuring future populations are genetically healthy and able to grow and flourish.”
