The impact and spread of the introduced rainbow skink in New Zealand
2023
Simpson, T. | Beggs, J. | Gaskett, A. G. | Baling, Marleen | Gibson, R. | Unitec, Te Pūkenga | University of Auckland | Auckland Zoo
Although invasive herpetofauna represent only a small portion of invasive species globally, their impact mostly remains poorly understood. New Zealand is home to two invasive reptile species, Trachemys scripta elegans and Lampropholis delicata. However, so far, only L. delicata is listed as an unwanted organism. This Australian skink arrived in Auckland in the 1960s, spreading throughout the North Island, and it has recently been detected as far south as Nelson. Its range will likely continue to expand. Lampropholis delicata shares significant habitat niche overlap with several endemic skinks, suggesting they compete for resources. In addition, agonistic interactions between L. delicata and the critically endangered Oligosoma kakerakau indicate that interference competition also occurs. However, further research is required to improve our understanding of their impact and how to manage L. delicata in New Zealand. I will use experiments on captive wild-born L. delicata to identify suitable materials and methods for preventing this species from climbing in or out of enclosures. I will also test how minimum egg incubation temperature and global warming could affect the range of L. delicata in New Zealand. This talk will present preliminary data on these experiments and discuss the challenges of establishing and maintaining a captive colony.
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