Climate Change Affects Lizards

December 2007

Herpetological circles throughout the UK are very concerned that the "common lizard" which once inhabited most areas of Britain is no longer quite so common.

The lizard typically inhabits areas such as grassland, heaths, sandy areas and moors however its numbers have been dwindling in the warmer and dryer southern regions and scientists say that this is due to climate change making the environment increasingly inhospitable for the small creature.

Howard Inns, of the Herpetological Conservation Trust (HCT), has recently asked members of the British Wildlife journal to supply information about their local population of liards so that the Trust can attempt to gauge how serious the situation may be.

Mr Inns' own experience points to decline in southern England, where he said it is possible to find all six native species of British reptile in a single morning. However, during a recent field trip to two such sites Mr Inns' was only able to find five of the half-dozen species, he commented:

"This would be understandable if the sites had undergone major change but I am aware of such situations in locations where the habitat looks ideal."

Circumstances like this have roused suspicion that climate change may have influenced the declining numbers of lizards found in the UK.

Lucy Benyon, wildlife information officer with Froglife, pointed out that climate change was affecting creatures in other ways by disrupting their annual cycle and leading to extreme weather at inappropriate times.

"The mild winter conditions bring them out early - when there will not be enough food around to support them and then spells of cold weather kill them. It is quite believable that common lizard populations are declining."

The results from Mr Inns' findings are due to be published in the British Wildlife journal in the new year.

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