Lined Skink at Beeliar Wetlands - Endangered Status

Question
(1) Is the lined skink identified in the Beeliar Reserve and listed by the Department of Environment and Conservation as a priority three species, at risk by loss of habitat?
(2) Which other lizards identified in Perth’s urban bushland, are listed as endangered or threatened or as a priority species and where is their habitat?

(3) Is the Minister aware of the journal Science collaborative study, which states, -

(a) 20 percent of all lizard species will be extinct by 2080, unless action is taken, to slow the rate of global warming; and

(b) in Australia, the number of lizards could decline from around 800 species, to less than 650 species, in the next 70 years?

Answered on 10 August 2010




(1) The lined skink is listed on the Department's priority species list as a Priority 3 species, and is found in the Beeliar Regional Park. Priority 3 listing means that the species requires further survey before its conservation status can be definitively determined and so it is not possible to state that this species is at risk by loss of habitat.

(2) There are no species of lizard recorded in the Perth metropolitan area that are specially protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 as threatened species with a ranking of vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.

(3) (a) - (b) I was not aware of this specific study, which I believe was entitled "Erosion of Lizard Diversity by Climate Change and Altered Thermal Niches". I understand that this study has 26 authors and is based largely on work in Mexico with some comparisons internationally. I understand the paper involves speculative modelling and may be subject to challenge. I can assure the Member that the Department of Environment and Conservation has systems in place to detect lizard species declines in Western Australia. I thank the Hon Member for bringing this study to my attention.