David G. Chapple
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View article: Assessing recovery and conservation of Australian freshwater fishes with the IUCN Green Status of Species and structured expert elicitation
Assessing recovery and conservation of Australian freshwater fishes with the IUCN Green Status of Species and structured expert elicitation Open
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green Status of Species (GSS), introduced in 2021, is a global standard of measurement used to assess the level to which a species has recovered (i.e., is viable and providing its e…
View article: Protected areas serve as climate refugia by reducing thermal stress in lizards
Protected areas serve as climate refugia by reducing thermal stress in lizards Open
View article: Threats to Australian squamates: A systematic and spatially explicit method to enhance species assessments
Threats to Australian squamates: A systematic and spatially explicit method to enhance species assessments Open
View article: Predicting potential climate-driven changes in activity time for the critically endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi)
Predicting potential climate-driven changes in activity time for the critically endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi) Open
High-elevation ectotherms are vulnerable to climate change due to their restricted ranges, limited dispersal capacity, and reliance on external temperatures for physiological regulation. In Australia, montane regions are limited in extent …
View article: Physiological Stresses Under Climate Change Drive Range Shifts in Small Ectotherms
Physiological Stresses Under Climate Change Drive Range Shifts in Small Ectotherms Open
Aim Climate change is expected to impose severe physiological stress on ectotherms, potentially reshaping their geographic distributions. Many species are expected to be impacted by the detrimental effects of climate change on their homeos…
View article: Microhabitat Preferences, Climate Vulnerability and Conservation Status of the High‐Elevation Orange‐Speckled Forest Skink (<i>Tumbunascincus luteilateralis</i>)
Microhabitat Preferences, Climate Vulnerability and Conservation Status of the High‐Elevation Orange‐Speckled Forest Skink (<i>Tumbunascincus luteilateralis</i>) Open
High‐elevation species are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their restricted distributions and reliance on stable, cool climates. Tumbunascincus luteilateralis (the orange‐speckled forest skink), a high‐elevation lizard end…
View article: Half of the habitat of Australia's highly imperilled narrow-range species is outside protected areas
Half of the habitat of Australia's highly imperilled narrow-range species is outside protected areas Open
Globally, species with small distributions face disproportionate extinction risk, with the impacts of land use change more likely to have catastrophic consequences. Identifying, protecting and managing sites where such species occur is ess…
View article: Using citizen science records from iNaturalist to document geographical range outliers in Australian skinks
Using citizen science records from iNaturalist to document geographical range outliers in Australian skinks Open
Context Accurately describing a species’ geographical distribution is important for informing research and conservation efforts. The citizen science platform iNaturalist provides a valuable resource for increasing our understanding of spec…
View article: The estimated cost of preventing extinction and progressing recovery for Australia’s priority threatened species
The estimated cost of preventing extinction and progressing recovery for Australia’s priority threatened species Open
The global extinction crisis is intensifying rapidly, driven by habitat loss, overexploitation, climate change, invasive species, and disease. This unprecedented loss of species not only threatens ecological integrity but also undermines e…
View article: Skinks on a Plane: Does Human‐Mediated Transportation Impact the Behaviour of an Invasive Lizard?
Skinks on a Plane: Does Human‐Mediated Transportation Impact the Behaviour of an Invasive Lizard? Open
The human‐mediated transportation of stowaway individuals to non‐native regions is a major driver of new biological invasions, and the post‐establishment spread of the invader in its introduced range. In order for the stowaway individuals …
View article: A targeted study to determine the conservation status of a Data Deficient montane lizard, the Eungella shadeskink (Saproscincus eungellensis)
A targeted study to determine the conservation status of a Data Deficient montane lizard, the Eungella shadeskink (Saproscincus eungellensis) Open
Context Combatting biodiversity loss is often hamstrung by a lack of species-specific knowledge. Species considered Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List are poorly understood and often neglected in conservation investment, despite evid…
View article: Patterns of girdle shape and their correlates in Australian limb-reduced skinks
Patterns of girdle shape and their correlates in Australian limb-reduced skinks Open
The evolution of limb reduction in squamates is a classic example of convergence, but the skeletal morphological patterns associated with it are underexplored. To provide insights on the biomechanical and developmental consequences of tran…
View article: Landscape Heterogeneity and Environmental Dynamics Improve Predictions of Establishment Success of Colonising Small Founding Populations
Landscape Heterogeneity and Environmental Dynamics Improve Predictions of Establishment Success of Colonising Small Founding Populations Open
In long‐distance dispersal events, colonising species typically begin with a small number of founding individuals. A growing body of research suggests that establishment success of small founding populations can be determined by the contex…
View article: Does the development environment cause the pace of life to change in a rainforest lizard?
Does the development environment cause the pace of life to change in a rainforest lizard? Open
Life history theory emphasizes that finite resources result in allocation trade-offs among the competing interests of self-maintenance, growth, reproduction, and survival. Environmental conditions, particularly during development, can infl…
View article: Microhabitat and adhesive toepads shape gecko limb morphology
Microhabitat and adhesive toepads shape gecko limb morphology Open
Different substrates pose varied biomechanical challenges that select specific morphologies, such as long limbs for faster running and short limbs for balanced posture while climbing narrow substrates. We tested how gecko locomotion is aff…
View article: ‘Alien invasion’: researchers identify which exotic animals may soon hitchhike into Australia
‘Alien invasion’: researchers identify which exotic animals may soon hitchhike into Australia Open
View article: Forecasting potential invaders to prevent future biological invasions worldwide
Forecasting potential invaders to prevent future biological invasions worldwide Open
The ever‐increasing and expanding globalisation of trade and transport underpins the escalating global problem of biological invasions. Developing biosecurity infrastructures is crucial to anticipate and prevent the transport and introduct…
View article: Variable viral loads and immune response in an invasive ant's native and introduced ranges
Variable viral loads and immune response in an invasive ant's native and introduced ranges Open
Aim Pathogens can play an important role in biological invasions. Introduced populations may be particularly vulnerable to pathogens due to factors such as low genetic diversity and high population density. However, introduced populations …
View article: Determining the geographic distribution and ecology of the Critically Endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi)
Determining the geographic distribution and ecology of the Critically Endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi) Open
Context Knowledge of species’ distribution and habitat associations is fundamental for conservation planning and management, especially in the context of range-restricted taxa. The Critically Endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi) i…
View article: Determining the generation length and level of morphological and genetic differentiation in the Data Deficient glossy grass skink (Pseudemoia rawlinsoni)
Determining the generation length and level of morphological and genetic differentiation in the Data Deficient glossy grass skink (Pseudemoia rawlinsoni) Open
Context Human activities are having a significant impact on biodiversity worldwide, to the extent that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event. Although a substantial proportion of species globally have an elevated risk of e…
View article: Habitat loss and degradation reduce the abundance of the glossy grass skink, Pseudemoia rawlinsoni
Habitat loss and degradation reduce the abundance of the glossy grass skink, Pseudemoia rawlinsoni Open
Context Habitat loss and degradation are major drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. In particular, wetland environments are being removed and degraded faster than any other terrestrial habitat on earth. The loss and degradation of wetla…
View article: Inferring the extinction risk of Data Deficient and Not Evaluated Australian squamates
Inferring the extinction risk of Data Deficient and Not Evaluated Australian squamates Open
The world is facing a biodiversity crisis, and species are in danger of slipping towards extinction before having their conservation status formally determined. Australian squamates (snakes and lizards) form a highly diverse (over 1000 spe…
View article: A global analysis of field body temperatures of active squamates in relation to climate and behaviour
A global analysis of field body temperatures of active squamates in relation to climate and behaviour Open
Aim Squamate fitness is affected by body temperature, which in turn is influenced by environmental temperatures and, in many species, by exposure to solar radiation. The biophysical drivers of body temperature have been widely studied, but…
View article: Troubled Waters in the Land Down Under: Pervasive Threats and High Extinction Risks Demand Urgent Conservation Actions to Protect Australia's Freshwater Fishes
Troubled Waters in the Land Down Under: Pervasive Threats and High Extinction Risks Demand Urgent Conservation Actions to Protect Australia's Freshwater Fishes Open
View article: Half of Australia's Highly Imperilled Narrow-Range Species Habitat is Outside Protected Areas
Half of Australia's Highly Imperilled Narrow-Range Species Habitat is Outside Protected Areas Open
View article: Built for success: Distribution, morphology, ecology and life history of the world's skinks
Built for success: Distribution, morphology, ecology and life history of the world's skinks Open
In animals, the success of particular lineages can be measured in terms of their number of species, the extent of their geographic range, the breadth of their habitats and ecological niches, and the diversity of their morphological and lif…
View article: Testing the function of a colour pattern polymorphism in a lizard
Testing the function of a colour pattern polymorphism in a lizard Open
Trait polymorphisms can vary across different contexts of selection and be maintained through trade-offs between these contexts. For example, colour polymorphic variants may represent alternative strategies optimizing crypsis or thermoregu…
View article: Ecophysiological trait variation in desert versus Mediterranean populations of a gecko
Ecophysiological trait variation in desert versus Mediterranean populations of a gecko Open
Populations inhabiting several biomes may experience different abiotic and biotic conditions, exerting local selection pressures. Temperature and water regimes are interconnected variables, that may differ between biomes, and greatly influ…
View article: Linking physiology and climate to infer species distributions in Australian skinks
Linking physiology and climate to infer species distributions in Australian skinks Open
Climate has a key impact on animal physiology, which in turn can have a profound influence on geographic distributions. Yet, the mechanisms linking climate, physiology and distribution are not fully resolved. Using an integrative framework…
View article: Ecomorphological correlates of inner ear shape in Australian limb-reduced skinks (Scincidae: Sphenomorphini)
Ecomorphological correlates of inner ear shape in Australian limb-reduced skinks (Scincidae: Sphenomorphini) Open
The inner ear labyrinth is an organ able to perceive balance and spatial orientation, but the drivers of its morphological variation across and within vertebrate lineages are unclear. We assess two competing hypotheses whether this organ, …