ReptileEcology

What drives reptiles?

• Thermoregulation• Feeding• Mating• Reproduction

Thermoregulation

• Variable structure (mosaic vegetation)

• Basking places (bare ground)

• Suitable aspect (south facing)

• Topography (undulating?)

Feeding

• Habitat/vegetation features suiting prey– lizards: invertebrates– snakes: other vertebrates…– grass snake >>> amphibians– adder >>> mammals (reptiles)– smooth snake >>> reptiles

Mating

Mating

Mating

Reproduction

• Egg-layers– sand lizard– introduced lizards– grass snake

• Live-bearers– common (viviparous) lizard– slow-worm– adder– smooth snake

Reproduction

• Egg-layers– need egg-laying sites…

• >bare ground• >rock crevices• >warm places (compost heaps?)

• Live-bearers– thermoregulate!– occur further north & in cooler habitats

What is good reptile habitat?

Lowland heathland - ideal for all reptiles

What is good reptile habitat?

Moorland with gorse scrub

Tussocky grass

What is good reptile habitat?

What is good reptile habitat?

Molinia tussocks on heathland/moorland

What is good reptile habitat?

Heathland/moorland bog – especially in summer

What is good reptile habitat?

Grassy brambly bank (south-facing)

What is good reptile habitat?

Woodland glade/forest ride

What is good reptile habitat?

Roadside verges – serve as important corridors

What is good reptile habitat?

Railways – good (but not possible to survey)…check land adjoining

What is good reptile habitat?

Boundary bank – corridor + shelter/varied aspects

What is good reptile habitat?

Set-aside field margin – good if kept this way?

What is good reptile habitat?

Vegetated coastal cliffs

What is good reptile habitat?

Coastal sand dunes – topography & veg structure

What is good reptile habitat?

Bramble thicket (edges and cover)

What is good reptile habitat?

Edge of gorse scrub

What is good reptile habitat?

Vegetated rocky slopes

What is good reptile habitat?

Riparian grass/scrub – especially grass snakes

What is good reptile habitat?

Brash piles/cuttings – basking/protection

What is good reptile habitat?

Manure heaps – good for grass snake egg-laying

What is good reptile habitat?

Log piles – good basking spots/protection

What is good reptile habitat?

Clear-felled forest

What is good reptile habitat?

‘Lush’ grass – ideal for slow-worms

What is good reptile habitat?

Allotments – good (if some plots left overgrown)

What is good reptile habitat?

Brownfield sites or “open mosaic” habitat

Photographs

• Photographs used in this presentation are by Chris Gleed-Owen, Fred Holmes, Phyl King and John Wilkinson

• Copyright of all photographs remains with the photographers and ARC

• These photographs should not be used for purposes other than NARRS training without the permission of the photographers.