Wall Lizard - Alien Status

Hi Arrazello, & welcome.

"If the wall lizard is not a threat to a native ecosystem"

This has not been proved definitively either way, but anecdotal evidence, and recent research suggests a negative impact upon both Sand lizard and Common lizard status.

In the UK it is true that the Wall lizard is most often associated with man-made structures (including quarries) and cliff-faces; although there are exceptions.

Please keep us posted with your assignment !

cheers,

Steve

 

I am a third year student of Environmental Science. Currrently I am writing an assignment on alien species and have chosen to argue the case that the alien vs. native species debate is outdated and not always appropriate esp. in light of changing global climate.

I agree with that to a certain extent as it is human activity which has introduced many hundreds of species around the world, it is also down to our views of what the world should be (species etc) that drives the debate with alien verses natives -

I want to draw a comparison between the little ringed plover which has native status (despite the first breeding pair in 1938) and the wall lizard afforded protection in Europe but not in England due to its alien status.

As with all these bird migrations there may have been a human element to them establishing themselves in the UK - other examples include the collared dove - was that introduced or did it make it to the UK by its own?

I have also come across other species on my travels which are said to have come to the UK through their own steam - Eagle Owls and Cranes - a question often remains were they in fact introductions? and does that really matter?

If the wall lizard is not a threat to a native ecosystem, it seems somewhat counterproductive in terms of preserving global biodiversity to not afford it protection in the UK. Can the forum offer an opinion on this?

It would be interesting to draw on the situation in Jersey where the Wall lizards are suspected as introductions but are afforded full protection under Jersey State Wildlife Laws - All their herpetofauna is fully protected - grass snake, common toad, wall lizard, slowworm and green lizard - I think the palmate newt may be except - here the wall lizards are found on fortifications and other large buildings even one of the fort islands has a population. A study into the genetics of the wall lizards here is looking at where they may have come from or their native status may be supported. 

I am still of the opinion that there are other factors which tip the balance in favour of the wall lizard when native species are present and are found to be declining.

I saw the presentation at the BHS meeting last year regarding the wall lizards and viviparous lizards. The results were interesting and I noted that the viviparous lizards were near cover (scrub, gorse etc) while the walls were near paths and much drier areas of the site (I assume) - perhaps the management of the site needs to be looked iinto alongside the possible bias in the survey results due to the detectability of walls over vivs?

I am also wondering if the wall lizard can be stated as inhabiting mostly artificially created environments?

Mostly artificial habitats - walls, stockades, forts, etc but they do live within cliff faces, rocky outcrops and other more semi natural habitats aswell.

 

J

 

 

 

 

Eagle owls are breeding in this country successfully for a number of years - some people say they were introduced or were escapees but there has been a suggestion that they made their own way across the north sea as they have been spotted on oil rigs apparently so it is possible that some have come over - but I also think that this is a potential native species for the UK like the other species which were hunted to extinction - lynx, wolf, bear, beaver etc

Collar doves are suggested that some were escapees from private bird collections in previous centuries.

 

the debates will rage on and on

 

J

Exactly why people alway question the given theory of how they got over here - changes in climate perhaps who knows

I am correct in thinking that the eagle owls was once native to the UK?

anyway the wall lizards in my opinion do not pose a 'significant' threat to our native lizards compared to the other main reasons why our native lizards are declining - which of course is habitat loss due to human activity -

Why spend money controlling a non native when the money can be better spent elsewhere which would actually do some good - habitat recreation on a large landscale scale perhaps would be a more beneficial venture for nature conservation.....

It makes me laugh concerning Ruddy Duck cull in England - when the simple solution to conserving the white headed duck is to cull the small number of ruddies which make their way to Spain etc but no a massice eradication project in the UK is the way to go despite the fact that it is large scale habitat loss and hunting which is knackering the white headed duck population





J

Probably a no goer as I believe that the higher powers would want to see animals removed and not released.

It is simple to lay the blame at the Wall lizards door when it could be a host of other factors which are affecting the native populations - genetics, management, micro climate etc

The wall lizards detectablity is reasonably high so it would give the impression that they are taking over when it can possibly be the management regime of the habitat favouring the walls over the viviparous -

J