Application for Scientific Permit – Available for Public Comment
Public comment on the following application for a Scientific Research (Fauna) Permit is open until 18 November.
Applicant: University of Tasmania
Species/Taxon: Northern snow skink (Carinascincus greeni)
Spotted skink (Carinascincus ocellatus)
Location: Ben Lomond National Park
Aim of project: The overarching purpose of this project is to assess the impact of climate change on the alpine snow skinks to inform their conservation management. The aim of this project is to determine whether lowland snow skinks possess a competitive advantage over the alpine snow skinks, and assess how a warming climate, which facilitates upward range shifts, may alter community dynamics between these species.
Justification: Snow skink species are largely endemic to Tasmania. Some of these species have broad ranges (i.e. lowland skinks like the spotted skink C. ocellatus) while three species are restricted to alpine areas above 1000 m (i.e. alpine skinks like the northern snow skink C. greeni). All three alpine snow skink species are federally listed as Endangered due to climate change.
Previously, lowland snow skinks were known to occur up to 1200 m but recent field observations have documented lowland snow skinks advancing into the range of the alpine specialists. changes in species distributions can lead to increased competition, trophic disruptions and/or phenological mismatches that compound the other impacts of climate change. The upward shift of lowland skinks therefore has potentially significant implications for the alpine species, especially if they compete for critical resources such as optimal basking sites.
Understanding how community dynamics are shifting under a warming climate is also essential for developing accurate predictive models of the alpine species’ future distributions.
Maximum likely numbers of individuals involved: (if impossible to estimate, indicate effort eg number of traps to be used and how long to be set)
Northern snow skink (Carinascincus greeni) - up to 500 observed, up to 100 captured.
Spotted skink (Carinascincus ocellatus) - up to 300 observed, up to 50 captured.
Activities undertaken and methods: This study will take place at Ben Lomond National Park, where C. ocellatus and C. greeni are known to occur in sympatry and allopatry. The majority of the survey is observational, with a small proportion of individuals to be captured, processed and released immediately at site of capture.
1. Map species co-occurrence and elevational limits (OBSERVATIONAL)
A transect between 1000m-1570m following the main access road and walking tracks. Every 50m, a 25m contour transect will be walked and the presence of C. ocellatus and/or C. greeni will be recorded.
2. Quantify differences in microhabitat, microclimate and behaviour (OBSERVATIONAL)
Two 200m transects (10m wide) will be established across both boulder fields and alpine heath habitats – one at a sympatric site (1400-1450m) and one at an allopatric site (1520-1570m). Each site will surveyed for up to seven days, alternating between sites. Observers will slowly walk transects every ~1-2 hours from ~6:30am (prior to lizard emergence) until ~7pm (after submergence). Each observation will have the following data collected: time, location, species, behaviour, sun exposure, basking surface, and microhabitat within 10m. Environmental conditions (temperature, wind, cloud) will be noted.
3. Measure physiological traits (CAPTURE)
After the observation surveys, the same sites will be revisited to collect thermal and morphometric data, alternating between sites to minimise behavioural bias. Transects will be walked from ~6:30am until ~7pm. Lizards will be captured via fishing (no hook) or noosing methods. Each capture will have the following data collected: body temperature, time, location, species, sex, snout-vent length, behaviour, sun exposure, surface and air temperature, and microhabitat, after which individuals will be marked temporarily and released within 5 minutes at point of capture.
Fate of animals: All captured lizards will be released back at point of capture within 5 minutes.
Likely impact on species involved (including any by-catch): There is no expected by-catch and there is expected to be minimal impact on the target species. This is a largely observational study and of the small proportion (16%) of animals to be captured, the measurements taken are non-invasive. All captured individuals will be released at point of capture. We do not expect any long-term impacts of our sampling on individual skinks or their populations.