Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management
A two-year reptile survey was conducted in a heathland in the north of the Netherlands, using artificial refuges placed in different habitats. The studied habitats differed in their botanical composition and physical structure. Five reptile species were recorded: slow worm (Anguis fragilis), vivipar...
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/441359 2024-01-21T10:05:40+01:00 Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management Stumpel, A.H.P. van der Werf, D.C. 2012 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/reptile-habitat-preference-in-heathland-implications-for-heathlan en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/265114 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/reptile-habitat-preference-in-heathland-implications-for-heathlan info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wageningen University & Research Herpetological Journal 22 (2012) 3 ISSN: 0268-0130 Anguis fragilis Artificial refuges Conservation Habitat Nature management Vegetation structure Zootoca vivipara info:eu-repo/semantics/article Article/Letter to editor info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2012 ftunivwagenin 2023-12-27T23:15:00Z A two-year reptile survey was conducted in a heathland in the north of the Netherlands, using artificial refuges placed in different habitats. The studied habitats differed in their botanical composition and physical structure. Five reptile species were recorded: slow worm (Anguis fragilis), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), grass snake (Natrix natrix) and adder (Viperu berus). Randomization tests were applied to assess the relationship between the presence of reptile species and habitat. Highest numbers of reptiles were found in habitats with a combination of common heather and purple moor grass, whereas habitats with common rush scored the lowest. The slow-worm preferred habitats consisting of common heather or crowberry, or a combination of these plants with purple moor grass. The viviparous lizard preferred habitats with common heather and purple moor grass. The impact of current nature management on the maintenance and development of these habitats is discussed, and recommendations are given for reptile faunal management. Article in Journal/Newspaper Crowberry Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
Anguis fragilis Artificial refuges Conservation Habitat Nature management Vegetation structure Zootoca vivipara |
spellingShingle |
Anguis fragilis Artificial refuges Conservation Habitat Nature management Vegetation structure Zootoca vivipara Stumpel, A.H.P. van der Werf, D.C. Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
topic_facet |
Anguis fragilis Artificial refuges Conservation Habitat Nature management Vegetation structure Zootoca vivipara |
description |
A two-year reptile survey was conducted in a heathland in the north of the Netherlands, using artificial refuges placed in different habitats. The studied habitats differed in their botanical composition and physical structure. Five reptile species were recorded: slow worm (Anguis fragilis), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), grass snake (Natrix natrix) and adder (Viperu berus). Randomization tests were applied to assess the relationship between the presence of reptile species and habitat. Highest numbers of reptiles were found in habitats with a combination of common heather and purple moor grass, whereas habitats with common rush scored the lowest. The slow-worm preferred habitats consisting of common heather or crowberry, or a combination of these plants with purple moor grass. The viviparous lizard preferred habitats with common heather and purple moor grass. The impact of current nature management on the maintenance and development of these habitats is discussed, and recommendations are given for reptile faunal management. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stumpel, A.H.P. van der Werf, D.C. |
author_facet |
Stumpel, A.H.P. van der Werf, D.C. |
author_sort |
Stumpel, A.H.P. |
title |
Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
title_short |
Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
title_full |
Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
title_fullStr |
Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
title_full_unstemmed |
Reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
title_sort |
reptile habitat preference in heathland: implications for heathland management |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/reptile-habitat-preference-in-heathland-implications-for-heathlan |
genre |
Crowberry |
genre_facet |
Crowberry |
op_source |
Herpetological Journal 22 (2012) 3 ISSN: 0268-0130 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/265114 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/reptile-habitat-preference-in-heathland-implications-for-heathlan |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wageningen University & Research |
_version_ |
1788696131563159552 |