Posted: 06 February 2007 at 5:56pm | IP Logged

The Wall Lizard in England, Quayle, A. Noble, M.  BRITISH WILDLIFE 2000, VOL 12; PART 2, pages 99-106, BRITISH WILDLIFE PUBLISHING 0958-0956

If so I'd be very grateful for a copy, as BW appears to have sold out. Email link below should work.

Also, does anybody have any details regarding the unconfirmed Ludlow colony ?

Cheers.

Posted: 07 February 2007 at 4:40am | IP Logged

Hi Steve

Yes I have a copy I will forward it to you -

Also the wall lizard project is ace well done! I am looking for possible speakers for the HWM in 2008 - would you like to present the project's findings in Jan 2008? I would also like to suggest a 10 min slot for the RAUK forum - as this year we had a 10 min slot for the BHS and I think that this is an excellent way of introducing different groups/organisations which are working together.

I would like to encourage ARG UK to promote the new project from RAUK

Regards

JC

Posted: 09 February 2007 at 9:30am | IP Logged

Hi,

Very interesting but could you clarify something for me. If Wall Lizard colonies are found to be spreading and if they are found to have a negative impact what exactly is meant by "assist with their management"

Posted: 09 February 2007 at 10:29am | IP Logged

I would imagine the most sensible management would be to create habitat which favours our native species over the Wall Lizard - but I would say that would only be neccessary if it was proven that Wall Lizards were actually causing a decline in our native species

So far there is no evidence to suggest such an impact occurs - even the Bournemouth Population where it widely known that people believe that wall lizards are out competing sand & viviparous lizards - it would easy to blame the Wall Lizard for the sand lizard decline as happens with other scapegoats for wildlife decline

You could try and eradicate the wall lizards - but I would imagine that the sand lizards would continue to decline - as it has been reported that the sand lizards were declining before the wall lizards were introduced

But this is why I think the wall lizard survey is important to gather some evidence to back up the anecdotal observations

Jon

Posted: 09 February 2007 at 12:19pm | IP Logged

Hi David

I know this has been mentioned previously - I will have to find out who exactly - the habitat management may have briefly enabled breeding - and of course any reduction of habitat would increase numbers seen wouldn't it - detectability increased may not reflect the situation on the ground

I would hope that killing walls would not be an option though I suspect some people may want this to happen

Regards

Jon

Posted: 09 February 2007 at 1:10pm | IP Logged

Right...The words 'assist with their management' were my words and are NOT a euphemism for a cull.

They are however words used when a month late writing up a web page and you want to get something up ASAP so we can start the discussion . I admit they are poorly chosen words, and I'll come up with something better over the weekend.

I think there are a few steps here, and the first is clearly to determine where the colonies are, and to track them. IF it is proved that their presence adversely affects native species, then there are a plethora of options to mitigate this which do not involve harming the animals.

I personally believe there may be many sites where these beautiful lizards could occupy an ecological niche. For instance...they seem far more adapt at using the third dimension than our present species.

Again, speaking personally, I would not want to lose indigenous Sand lizard colonies to an introduced species IF it is proven that they cannot occupy the same locations. This does not mean that the answer is to harm the Wall lizards in any way.