Nature Foundation recently published a scientific paper in Wildlife Research in collaboration with Flinders University, University of Adelaide and University NSW.

‘Power and the passion: Assessing Statistical Power with Simulations to Optimise Monitoring of a threatened lizard’ is a significant milestone in our understanding of the endangered Pygmy Bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis). This collaborative research conducted at Tiliqua Nature Reserve, has provided crucial insights into the species and its conservation.

Effective ecological surveying is a crucial component of conserving cryptic and threatened species. Ensuring a survey design has adequate statistical power to detect changes is often overlooked. The Pygmy Bluetongue will likely benefit from increased survey optimisation and structured monitoring efforts across its fragmented and limited distribution.

The research involved comparing multiple survey quadrat sizes on simulated populations of Pygmy Bluetongues at varying densities to evaluate sample sizes and detection rates required to achieve optimal statistical power and assess the ideal quadrat size and number for detecting population changes at Tiliqua Nature Reserve.

The results are the first of their kind for the species and provide a reliable method for long-term monitoring. This survey method continues to be used at Tiliqua Nature Reserve and has also been adopted as best practice by the Pygmy Bluetongue Recovery team at other locations with populations of the species.

We extend our sincere congratulations to all the authors: Jack Bilby, Joshua Martin, Dr Ryan Baring, Dr Jessica Clayton, and Nature Foundation’s Science and Knowledge team members Dr Lucy Clive and Kelly Arbon. Their dedication and hard work have made this research a success.

You can read the full paper here.


Pygmy Bluetongue lizard photo by Dr Lucy Clive at Tiliqua Nature Reserve.