Initial observations on the effect of thinning eucalypt regrowth on heliothermic skinks in lowland forest, East Gippsland, Victoria

Abstract

Thinned sites characterized by an open vegetation structure, an increase in penetrating sunlight and the availability of "litter-free' basking substrates indicated a tendency to support generally a higher density of skinks, including more Lampropholis guichenoti a species that prefers drier, exposed sites. Unthinned regrowth sites, characterised by a more enclosed structure, less penetrating sunlight and large amounts of litter and vegetation covering available basking substrates, generally supported fewer heliothermic skinks overall, except for Lampropholis delicata, a species that prefers sheltered sites. The arboreal Spencer's skink Pseudemoia spenceri occurred in significantly higher num..