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Reptile Densities average UK values

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    Posted: 14 Dec 2007 at 6:26pm

Hi all,

I don't know of a reliable source for average densities for given habitats in the UK for the widespread reptile species. It occurred to me that many consultants are sitting on data regarding mitigation projects where the number of animals removed is known and therefore a fairly good stab at the density per hectare of the population is possible.

I've been running through some figures and get for:

Viviparous Lizards 200 per hectare

Grass Snakes, as low as 10 per hectare

For a number of brownfield sites.

Can anyone else improve on those figures or give data for other species?

To make it a useful comparison adult animals only as the numbers of juveniles and sub-adults tend to fluctuate widely i.e. the same data including these lifestages would give me values of 400 to 1400 per hectare for lizards which isn't very helpful.

I know there have been many projects where much higher densities of lizards were encountered, what was the habitat and why was the holding capacity so much higher? What I'm really looking for though is enough data so we can establish what average densities are for a number of habitats. I read so many reports where it states 'high' or 'low' density but no real yardstick. (I'm ignoring X seen in a day as utterly meaningless as it is entirely subjective, if I put out felts I would see plenty in a day, at exactly the right time, with the felts placed in exactly the right place etc etc, I want hard figures!)

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote herpetologic2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Dec 2007 at 6:59pm

 

Hi Gemma

I have a few figures from mitigation projects I have been involved in - I will dig them out. What I would like ask is for any count data for the Backwarden for Adders.

A review of the species is being planned for 2008 in Essex and key sites will be featured I would like to include as much data as possible if you could send the counts through that would be great

 

Jon 

Report your sightings to the Record Pool http://arguk.org/recording
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