1. Reptile Ecology

2. What drives reptiles? Thermoregulation Feeding Mating Reproduction

3. Thermoregulation Variable structure (mosaic vegetation) Basking places (bare ground) Suitable aspect (south facing) Topography (undulating?)

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

5. Mating

8. Reproduction Egg-layers –sand lizard –introduced lizards –grass snake Live-bearers –common (viviparous) lizard –slow-worm –adder –smooth snake

9. Reproduction Egg-layers –need egg-laying sites… >bare ground >rock crevices >warm places (compost heaps?) Live-bearers –thermoregulate! –occur further north & in cooler habitats

10. What is good reptile habitat? Lowland heathland - ideal for all reptiles

11. What is good reptile habitat? Moorland with gorse scrub

12. Tussocky grass What is good reptile habitat?

13. Molinia tussocks on heathland/moorland

14. What is good reptile habitat? Heathland/moorland bog – especially in summer

15. What is good reptile habitat? Grassy brambly bank (south-facing)

16. What is good reptile habitat? Woodland glade/forest ride

17. What is good reptile habitat? Roadside verges – serve as important corridors

18. What is good reptile habitat? Railways – good (but not possible to survey) …check land adjoining

19. What is good reptile habitat? Boundary bank – corridor + shelter/varied aspects

20. What is good reptile habitat? Set-aside field margin – good if kept this way?

21. What is good reptile habitat? Vegetated coastal cliffs

22. What is good reptile habitat? Coastal sand dunes – topography & veg structure

23. What is good reptile habitat? Bramble thicket (edges and cover)

24. What is good reptile habitat? Edge of gorse scrub

25. What is good reptile habitat? Vegetated rocky slopes

26. What is good reptile habitat? Riparian grass/scrub – especially grass snakes

27. What is good reptile habitat? Brash piles/cuttings – basking/protection

28. What is good reptile habitat? Manure heaps – good for grass snake egg-laying

29. What is good reptile habitat? Log piles – good basking spots/protection

30. What is good reptile habitat? Clear-felled forest

31. What is good reptile habitat? ‘Lush’ grass – ideal for slow-worms

32. What is good reptile habitat? Allotments – good (if some plots left overgrown)

33. What is good reptile habitat? Brownfield sites or “open mosaic” habitat

34. 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.