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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 71(1)

Spatial prioritisation of survey and management efforts for a threatened pygopodid in south-western New South Wales

Helen P. Waudby https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1888-9827 A B * , Eren Turak C , Kate Callister D , Singarayer Florentine D , Martin Westbrooke D , Grant Palmer D and Ray Dayman E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Biodiversity and Conservation Division, Department of Planning and Environment, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.

B Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.

C Science, Economics and Insights, Department of Planning and Environment, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.

D Future Regions Research Centre, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University, Ballarat, Vic. 3353, Australia.

E National Parks and Wildlife Service, Buronga, NSW 2739, Australia.

* Correspondence to: helen.waudby@environment.nsw.gov.au

Handling Editor: Brad Law

Australian Journal of Zoology 71, ZO23016 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23016
Submitted: 1 May 2023  Accepted: 13 October 2023  Published: 31 October 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Determining species’ distributions is challenging for cryptic species that are difficult to detect using standard techniques. The mallee worm-lizard (Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974) is a cryptic reptile in the family Pygopodidae, listed as Endangered in New South Wales. We modelled the species’ potential distribution (Maxent) to improve understanding of the species’ distribution and surveyed potential habitat in the Scotia Mallee region (an area with suitable habitat) from 2018 to 2022, with pitfall traps and artificial refuges (terracotta roof tiles). We completed 11 587 pitfall trap-nights and 3200 tile checks over eight monitoring sessions. Over this period, we detected six vertebrate species (all lizards) using roof tiles and 40 species with pitfall traps, but no mallee worm-lizards. Evaluation of existing records of the mallee worm-lizard from NSW suggested that the state constitutes the north-eastern edge of its continental range, with the species apparently present in low numbers across a wide swathe of south-western NSW. Most records were located within or near to spinifex or porcupine grass (Triodia spp.) communities, on private land. Species distribution modelling provided outputs that are useful for spatial prioritisation of conservation efforts for the species, with region-wide maps showing that much of the Scotia Mallee study area contains potentially suitable habitat for the mallee worm-lizard. However, habitat suitability scores for individual cells in this area were low, in some instances, because of high maximum summer temperatures and soil available water capacity. We anticipate that increasing temperatures associated with climate change may further reduce the suitability of habitat in this area in the future.

Keywords: artificial refuges, ecological niche models, fire ecology, Maxent, pitfall trapping, Pygopodidae, species distribution models, trapping methods.

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