Conserving Biodiversity in Brigalow Regrowth - School of ...

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limbs and under loose bark on old trees. At night it hunts for insects in the branches and foliage of brigalow trees. WILL GOULDING SHINGLEBACK SKINK Widespread in semi-arid regions of Australia, the shingleback (also known as the stumpy-tail or sleepy lizard) is a large species of skink that feeds mostly on vegetation. Shinglebacks have large coarse scales that give them a heavily armoured appearance. MICHIALA BOWEN Crucifix toad The crucifix toad (or holy cross toad) earns its name by the yellow and red spots arranged in a cross on its yellow to olive back. This brightly coloured species is abundant on the black soil floodplains of the Brigalow Belt, but typically only rises from its subterranean haunt following heavy rain. Its call is a series of long-owl-like ‘whoo-oos’. If handled, it can secrete a pasty yellow substance that can be difficult to remove from hands. When feeling threatened they will open their mouth wide to reveal a bright blue tongue in an attempt to frighten off potential predators. Despite their tough attitude and appearance, their habit of sun baking on roads means that most people will encounter these impressive skinks as road-kill victims. STEWART MCDONALD BRIGALOW SCALY-FOOT While the brigalow scaly-foot may appear superficially to be a snake, it is in fact a flap-footed lizard. That means it has no forelimbs and the hind limbs are merely small and scalelike flaps. Unlike snakes it has a broad and fleshy tongue, ear openings and a very long tail, which (like other lizards) they are capable of losing if caught by the tail. MARTIN BENNETT ROUGH COLLARED FROG The rough collared frog belongs to a group of frogs that are terrestrial and/or aquatic in habit. They have very powerful hind limbs which assist in burrowing. It is a somewhat rarely encountered species that is restricted to an arid and semiarid region across the Queensland-NSW border. There is concern that populations of this species are in decline. Rough collared frogs are found on black-soil and heavy clay plains which are typically flooded by heavy rains. Males are heard calling after rain usually from flooded areas and females lay eggs as a loose mass attached to submerged plants in a flooded depression or waterhole, following rain. The brigalow scaly-foot is a smooth glossy reptile that has a dark and a light band across the neck. The lizard is active by night and during the day it hides in thick leaf litter, woody debris on the forest floor and beneath rocks or logs. Confusingly to both humans and its predators, it is capable of rearing up like a snake. 22
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY IN BRIGALOW LANDSCAPES Types of landscapes We have outlined many of the things you can do to help encourage wildlife on your property. But no-one can do everything. What are the most important things for wildlife? In part, the answer depends on what sort of landscape you are dealing with. Below we list the highest-priority management actions for some examples of different landscape types. Management Priorities: High cover landscape Maintain habitat condition: • maintain low grazing pressure • control weeds • control exotic animals • avoid removing habitat like fallen timber moderate cover (connected) landscape Increase small habitat patch size and linear patch widths by buffering existing patches with regrowth Maintain habitat condition: • maintain low grazing pressure • control weeds • control exotic animals • avoid removing habitat like fallen timber • allow regrowth for long periods of time (decades) MODERATE COVER (DISCONNECTED) LANDSCAPE Increase connectivity: • Retain regrowth to connect nearby patches to one another Maintain habitat condition: • maintain low grazing pressure • control weeds • control exotic animals • avoid removing habitat like fallen timber • allow regrowth for long periods of time (decades) LOW COVER LANDSCAPE Increase habitat amount: • increase patch sizes by retaining a buffer of regrowth vegetation • create more habitat patches by retaining regrowth vegetation Increase connectivity: • retain regrowth to connect nearby patches to one another Maintain habitat condition: • maintain low grazing pressure • control weeds • control exotic animals • avoid removing habitat like fallen timber Remnant vegetation Old regrowth Young regrowth Cleared land Medium aged regrowth 23
Page 2 and 3: PARTNERS CONTRIBUTORS Associate Pro
Page 4 and 5: Foreword Times change. In 1960 when
Page 6 and 7: Brigalow Landscapes The Brigalow Be
Page 8 and 9: Between the Wars After WWI, develop
Page 10 and 11: threats to brigalow Although the br
Page 12 and 13: Scales of Habitat Management Managi
Page 14 and 15: How much vegetation? The main reaso
Page 16 and 17: Managing dense Brigalow regrowth: T
Page 18 and 19: Key habitat features What are the m
Page 20 and 21: Iconic species and their habitat WI
Page 24 and 25: LIST OF VERTEBRATE SPECIES recorded
Page 26 and 27: QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 1. How much v

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