title: The use of body condition and haematology to detect widespread threatening processes in sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) in two agricultural environments.
abstract: Agricultural practices, including habitat alteration and application of agricultural chemicals, can impact wildlife resulting in their decline. Determining which of these practices are contributing to declines is essential if the declines are to be reversed. In this study, the health of two geographically separated sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) populations was compared between a rangeland environment and cropping environment using linear body size index (LBSI) and haematology. Animals in the cropping site were smaller, suggesting genetic differences as the result of geographical isolation. The animals in the cropping site had a lower LBSI and many were experiencing a regenerative anaemia. The anaemia was postulated to be the cause of the low LBSI. The anaemia appeared to be the result of haemolysis and was likely to be caused by exposure to agricultural chemicals applied in the cropping site but not the rangeland site. Elevated white blood cell counts in lizards in the rangeland site suggested that they were experiencing an inflammatory disease of possible ecological significance. Together, these results demonstrate the value of combining physical and haematological parameters when studying the impact of agricultural practices on wildlife. They also show that reptiles may be useful as sentinel species for livestock and humans.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064 , Australia ; Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre , The University of Western Australia , 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009 , Australia ; TERN Eco-informatics Facility , The University of Adelaide , North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005 , Australia.
authors.forename: Anita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2006 , Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smee
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University , GPO 2010, Adelaide, South Australia 5000 , Australia ; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University , 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6163 , Australia.
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2006 , Australia.
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2570 , Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phalen
keywords: anaemia; farm chemicals; haematology; haemolysis