S.R.C. Mole’s scientific contributions

Introduced populations of Lacerta bilineata and Podarcis muralis were discovered on Boscombe cliffs in 2002. Since then both species have been breeding successfully. This investigation plotted their territory in 2007 and compared their population trends with that of the native Zootoca vivipara. Fifteen survey visits were undertaken between April and September 2007 during which time observations were made of 214 non-native and 44 native lizards. The two introduced species dominated the central area of the site with the native species found in substantial numbers only on the periphery. Comparison with previously collected survey data show that the relative abundance of non-native species has increased; between 2002 and 2007 P. muralis increased by 40% and L. bilineata by 36%; compared with Z. vivipara which declined by 75%. Sufficient habitat favourable to the introduced species means that there is the potential for unimpeded range expansion along the cliffs, which raises concern for a sand lizard Lacerta agilis population to the west of this site. Eradication of the non-native species may be impractical because they occur on a relatively inaccessible cliff face.