Movements, Home Ranges, and Capture Effect of the Endangered Otago Skink (Oligosoma otagense)

Otago Skinks (Oligosoma otagense) are some of New Zealand's largest and most rare lizards. The movements and home ranges of these skinks were investigated using radio-telemetry at the Redbank Reserve near Macraes Flat, Central Otago, New Zealand. Thirteen Otago Skinks were tracked from December 2003 through April 2004 for 26-111 days. There was no significant difference in the distance or frequency of movements between sexes. Home ranges estimated for all individuals using the 100% Minimum Convex Polygon method varied from 200-5,400 m 2 . Male home ranges were significantly larger than female home ranges, and nongravid females had significantly larger home ranges than gravid females. There was a considerable amount of home-range overlap and interaction between individuals. Human capture of skinks, the most common method for the monitoring this species, increased the frequency of movements. Capture-induced disturbance caused skinks to increase the frequency of movements in the days immediately following the event. The results of this study will be used in the future conservation management of the Otago Skinks.