Using landowner knowledge and field captures to determine habitat use by the northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) on exurban residential land in southwestern Manitoba

Krause Danielsen, Allison Marie

Using landowner knowledge and field captures to determine habitat use by the northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) on exurban residential land in southwestern Manitoba

dc.contributor.author	Krause Danielsen, Allison Marie
dc.contributor.examiningcommittee	Davidson-Hunt, Iain (NRI) Brook, Ryan (University of Saskatchewan)	en_US
dc.contributor.supervisor	Koper, Nicola (NRI) Rutherford, Pamela (Brandon University)	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2012-04-20T20:57:42Z
dc.date.available	2012-04-20T20:57:42Z
dc.date.issued	2012-04-20
dc.degree.discipline	Natural Resources Management	en_US
dc.degree.level	Master of Natural Resources Management (M.N.R.M.)	en_US
dc.description.abstract	Exurban development, consisting of low density residential housing in a rural setting, is steadily increasing in North America. This increase may have negative impacts on the habitat for some species, through the introduction of non-native plants and new predators such as house cats. The northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) is listed as Endangered in Canada occurring only in southwestern Manitoba. The objectives of this study included: a) defining prairie skink microhabitat use on private land according to vegetation, temperature and cover availability, b) determining landowner awareness of prairie skinks on their property, and c) determining how landowner stewardship could be used in skink conservation. Mixed methods strategy of inquiry was utilized and data collection procedures included both quantitative habitat surveys and qualitative landowner interviews. I found that prairie skinks were most often found in prairie habitat, and were found most often in areas with a) high percent artificial cover, b) high leaf litter, and c) more pieces of cover per acre. Landowners most often saw skinks near buildings, in flower beds and in debris piles. Landowner attitudes towards skinks were positive,though willingness may not translate into action.	en_US
dc.description.note	May 2012	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1993/5314
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.rights	open access	en_US
dc.subject	Mixed-methods	en_US
dc.subject	prairie skink	en_US
dc.subject	mixed-grass prairie	en_US
dc.subject	exurban	en_US
dc.subject	development	en_US
dc.subject	habitat	en_US
dc.title	Using landowner knowledge and field captures to determine habitat use by the northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) on exurban residential land in southwestern Manitoba	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
local.subject.manitoba	yes	en_US