Relative Abundance and Risk Assessment of Lace Monitors (Varanus varius) on Fraser Island, Queensland: Are Monitors Habituated to Human Presence?

Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/articles/j96021612

Abstract

As the human population continues to increase throughout the world, more land is being converted into urban environments. This imposes significant pressures on wildlife living in modified landscapes, where some will be able to survive, and others will not. In order to determine whether the lace monitor (Varanus varius) can live in human modified landscapes, V. varius were observed in several natural and modified habitats on Fraser Island. Relative abundances and risk assessment were measured in areas of high and low human densities. Direct and tangential approaches were used to record flight initiation distances and investigate risk perception of the monitors. Varanus varius were observed more frequently in campsites where people were present than in natural habitat, but only up to a certain level of development. Monitors also perceived people as less of a threat inside campsites than in natural habitats where human presence was much lower. The direction of approach by the observer also led to different levels of risk assessment, with a direct approach perceived as more threatening. Varanus varius on Frasier Island seem to be able to thrive around the edges of human development, as long as some natural habitat is available, and are therefore classified as urban adapters.

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