The effects of cell grazing on the longevity of spider burrows, and the potential c6nsequences for the endangered Pygmy Bluetongue lizard

摘要

Prior to European settlement, South Australia's native temperate grasslands covered an area of approximatelyrn1 500 000 ha (Hyde 1995). However, extensive clearance for cultivation dramatically reduced the communities' distribution and by 1995 only 5% of the community remained extant (Hyde 1995). The remnant areas of grassland are highly fragmented and often severely degraded by inappropriate stocking regimes (Hyde 1995). In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the need for grassland conservation. Grasslands require some form of intermediate level disturbance to maintain community structure and composition (Lewis et al. 2008).