THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND LIVESTOCK-GRAZING ON ANIMAL COMMUNITIES IN REMNANTS OF GIMLET EUCALYPTUS-SALUBRIS WOODLAND IN THE WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN WHEAT-BELT .2. LIZARDS

1. The study examined relationships between habitat and biogeographic variables and the presence of lizard groups and individual lizard spec ies in remnants of gimlet Eucalyptus salubris woodland in the Western Australian wheatbelt. 2. The lizard species found in various gimlet wo odland remnants are sub-sets of those found prior to fragmentation. 3. Regression analysis showed that woodly litter, percentage shrub cover and number of trees were the only habitat variables to influence spec ies richness of the lizard taxa. Area, connectivity and distance to th e nearest native vegetatation were the only biogeographic variables to influence species richness of geckos, 'other' lizards and total lizar ds. 4. Three individual species showed no significant relationships wi th any variables, whereas three species had significant relationships to variables related to cover/shelter only. 5. Disturbance from sheep grazing and trampling had no influence on the species richness of the different lizard taxa, but may have influenced the persistence of indi vidual species in some remnants. 6. Implications of our findings for m anagement of remnant vegetation are discussed.