Reptile assemblages and agroforestry in the southwest Australian wheatbelt

[Truncated] Recent studies into reptile populations in the Australian agricultural landscape have shown that there is a steady overall decline in reptile abundance and distribution. However, profitable hardwood perennial plantations have the potential to create habitats, refuges and corridors for a variety of species. Whether or not reptiles can recolonise these revegetated areas is dependent on their feeding habits and their specific habitat requirements.
This thesis aimed to understand the ecological roles reptiles play in agricultural landscapes, and in particular, determine if profitable hardwood perennial plantations can enhance reptile biodiversity in the Western Australian (WA) wheatbelt area. Two approaches were used: 1) Examination of reptile assemblages and their food resources (i.e. invertebrates) in three habitats: paddocks, sandalwood plantations and remnant vegetation. 2) Comparison of the similarities and/or differences between reptile and invertebrate trophic levels through tracing stable isotopes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) amongst the three habitats.