Skink Ecology and Conservation

Female skinks brooding eggs                                   Photo: S. Hecnar

 

The Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon [Eumeces] fasciatus) is a small insectivorous lizard that lives in open habitats within the Eastern Deciduous Forest of North America.  Despite having the largest geographic range of any lizard on the continent, relatively little is known of its ecology, behaviour, and general biology because of its secretive habits and semi-fossorial lifestyle.  Being eastern Canada's only lizard species, it is also an important part of our nation's natural heritage.

 

The Canadian range of the Five-lined Skink consists of two widely separated populations, one associated with the Carolinian Forest in extreme southwestern Ontario and the other with rocky habitats along the southern fringe of the Canadian Shield in southeastern Ontario.  At least 17 local populations existed in southwestern Ontario prior to 1984; however, only 6 highly isolated local populations persist presently in this region.  In terms of loss of natural habitat, southwestern Ontario, is one of the most heavily impacted areas of North America.

 

Juvenile skink basking                                     Photo: S. Hecnar

 

We have been studying the skink population at Point Pelee National Park near Leamington Ontario since 1990, at Rondeau Provincial Park since 2012, and at Pinery Provincial Park since 2014.  This work began with my Master's Thesis research through the University of Windsor in which I focussed on habitat selection in the species.  In the early 1990s we detected a declining population trend and discovered evidence of adverse effects of human disturbance.  The focus of our research then expanded to include conservation of the species and we continue to advise Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, and other agencies in managing the species.  Based on results of restoration experiments we conducted, Parks Canada has been practicing active management to restore skink habitat and numbers of skinks have recovered in restored areas of the park.  Recently, we began research investigating distribution and habitat selection of the skink in Rondeau Provincial Park and Pinery Provincial Parks. Because much of southern Ontario was tallgrass prairie before European colonization we are studying the relationship between forest canopy and skink habitat quality to develop guidelines for regional habitat restoration.  Our current results indicate a threshold effect of canopy closure beyond which skinks cannot access optimal thermal conditions.  We recently studied the association of tail break frequency (autotomy) with densities of potential predators finding evidence of a role of some bird and mammal taxa.  We are now beginning a detailed study of skink movements among habitat types using radio-telemetry.

 

Our research is advancing general knowledge about skink ecology.  We are investigating

patterns of habitat and microhabitat use, nesting and brooding behaviour, population fluctuations, diet, and the role of environmental factors and human disturbance in influencing activity and population size.  Besides contributing to our understanding of basic ecology of the species, our research also provides useful information for Parks Canada and Ontario Parks to manage this species and similar species that exist in isolated preserves.  Our basic research and monitoring efforts are continuing.  Funding of our skink research at Point Pelee has been provided primarily by Parks Canada with additional support from NSERC.  Our research at Rondeau and Pinery Provincial Parks is supported through OMNR's SARRFO and SARSF Program and Ontario Parks. Our research at Pinery is in partnership of the Friends of Pinery.