Aaron Fenner

Postgraduate Student

Contact Details

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Research

The Social Structure of the Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis

The Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis

The pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis, is an endangered scincid lizard found exclusively in remnant fragments of native grassland habitat in the mid north of South Australia. Historical records indicate that T. adelaidensis geographic range extended over at least 150 km, from the Adelaide Plains in the south to Burra in the north. However, there were no recorded collections of this species despite numerous search efforts after 1960 and T. adelaidensis was thought to be extinct. In 1992 however, a specimen of T. adelaidensis was recovered from the stomach of a recently road killed eastern brown snake, Psuedonaja textilis. The rediscovery of T. adelaidensis prompted new searches in the vicinity of the initial discovery and resulted in the first capture of a live specimen for more than thirty years. The rediscovery of T. adelaidensis and the finding of a population has enable studies to be undertaken to understand the basic biology and ecology of this species, previously known from only 20 museum specimens.

My study aims to determine the social structure and what influences it, in the endangered skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis. This will be achieved through genetic studies and field experiments using wild populations of lizards near Burra in the mid north of South Australia. Genetic studies will be used to determine relatedness amongst individuals and whether certain individuals have a genetic susceptibility to parasites. Field studies will examine the responses of lizards to chemosensory cues from kin and conspecifics. Field studies will also be used to determine the immigration, emigration and movement patterns of individuals through the population. The identification, distribution and abundance of parasites will also be determined. Once the social structure of T. adelaidensis is understood, better management plans can then be implemented to aid in the conservation of this species. The knowledge gained from this study will also add greatly to our understanding of reptilian social systems and the evolution of sociality.

Publications

• Fenner, A L., Hutchinson, M N., and Bull, C M. (2006) Unique Tail Regeneration in a Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis. Herpetofauna, 36(2) 68-69.

• Fenner, A L. and Bull, C M. (2007) Bothriocroton hydrosauri (Formerly; Aponomma hydrosauri) (Denny, 1843) (Acari: Ixodidae), New Parasite Record for the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis (Scincidae) from Australia. Comparative Parasitology, 74(2) 378-379

• Fenner A.L. & Bull C.M. (2007) Short-term impact of grassland fire on the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard. Journal of Zoology, 272 (4) 444-450.

• Fenner, A L. (2007) Summer Breeding and accelerated larval development in the Myobatrachid Frog, Neobatrachus pictus Peters, 1863. Herpetological Review 38(3) 389-291.

• Fenner, A L., Bull, C M., and Hutchinson, M N. (2007) Omnivorous diet of the endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis. Amphibia-Reptilia 28 560-565.

• Gardner M G, Bull C M, Fenner A, Murray, K and Donnellan S C. (2007) Consistent social structuring within aggregations of the Australian lizard Egernia stokesii across seven disconnected rocky outcrops. Journal of Ethology, 25 (3) 263-270.

• Fenner, A L., Smales, L R., and Bull, C M. (2008) Pharyngodon wandillahensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis Peters, 1863 (Sauria: Scincidae), South Australia, Australia. Comparative Parasitology 75(1) 69-75.

• Fenner, A L., Bull, C M. and Hutchinson, M N. (2008) Injuries to lizards: conservation implications for the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis. Wildlife Research 35(2) 158-161.

• Fenner, A L. and Bull, C M. (2008) The impact of nematode parasites on the behaviour of an Australian lizard, the gidgee skink Egernia stokesii. Ecologicial Research. Online Early DOI 10.1007/s11284-007-0453-1

• Fenner, A L. and Bull, C M. Tiliqua adelaidensis (pygmy bluetongue lizard) Mating Behavior. Herpetological Review (In press).

Presentations at Conferences

• Australian Society of Herpetologist, ASH conference, Healesville Vic. Aaron L. Fenner & C. Michael Bull (2006) The short-term impacts of fire on the behaviour of an endangered skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, spoken presentation

• Ecological Society of Australia, ESA conference, Brisbane. Aaron L. Fenner; C. Michael Bull & Phillip, J. Mayes (2005) The cost of group living: The effect of parasites on host fitness and group living in the lizard, Egernia stokesii, spoken presentation

• Australian Society of Herpetologist, ASH conference, Albany WA. Aaron L. Fenner & C. Michael Bull (2007) Is territory demarcation a pile of poo? (poster)

• Australian Society of Parasitology, Glenelg SA. Aaron L. Fenner and C. Michael Bull (2008) The impact of nematode parasites on the behaviour of an Australian lizard, the gidgee skink Egernia stokesii. Spoken presentation

Grants & Funding

• Australian Society of Herpetologists Student Travel Grant for ASH ’07 Albany WA

• Australian Research Council

• Nature Foundation South Australia

• South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage

• South Australian Museum

• Holsworth Wildlife Endowment Fund

• Australian Academy of Science (AAS) Endangered Vertebrate Grant

• Elaine Martin Travel Fund

• Flinders University Research Student Conference Travel Grant

Supervisors

Dr Mark Hutchinson - SA Museum

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