Ecological Factors Associated with Burrow System Occupancy by Great Desert Skinks (Liopholis kintorei)

The great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei, locally known as tjakuṟa) occupies burrow systems in arid regions of central Australia. Most burrow systems remain occupied for an average of 4, and up to 10, years by the same related individuals. The circumstances associated with changes in occupancy are under active investigation. Factors linked to tjakuṟa abandoning burrow systems include intense fires and predation by feral cats (Felis catus). We examined ecological factors associated with whether burrow systems that were occupied in the previous year were currently occupied by tjakuṟa. We determined occupancy of previously occupied tjakuṟa burrow systems by the presence of fresh scats in their latrines. We also assessed the size, vegetation cover, and proximity of termite calics to burrow systems. Neither overall vegetation cover nor spinifex cover was related to burrow system occupancy, but larger burrow systems were more likely to remain occupied. Burrow systems within 10 m of termite structures were more—and those within 2.5 m of Grevillea were less—likely to remain occupied by tjakuṟa. The role of woody vegetation (Grevillea) and termite presence on risk of predation, the behavior of tjakuṟa, and burrow system occupancy merits further investigation on a longer timescale.