Guiding principles for conserving reptiles in Australian temperate agricultural landscapes

Expansion of agricultural activities has contributed to habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation, leading to biodiversity declines worldwide. Reptiles are an important component of vertebrate diversity in temperate agricultural landscapes but are particularly vulnerable to habitat modification due to their ecological requirements, limited dispersal abilities, and reliance on sensitive microhabitats. However, conservation efforts within agricultural landscapes have largely focused on native vegetation, with restoration efforts focused on high density tree plantings targeting avian species. This narrative review synthesises literature on patterns of reptile diversity in Australian temperate agricultural landscapes to support guiding principles for sustainable farm planning and management. Google Scholar and Web of Science were used to search for ecological literature pertaining to reptile diversity (species richness and abundance) in temperate agricultural landscapes. Main findings were extracted from the abstracts and results sections, summarised and collated into themes representative of different landscape elements or farming practices. Key principles based on the literature include: (1) protecting remnant vegetation and countryside elements; (2) managing vegetation regeneration; (3) implementing sustainable grazing practices; (4) adopting minimum-till and stubble retention farming; (5) reducing herbicide and pesticide use; (6) controlling introduced predators; and (7) restoring critical habitats such as rocks and logs. These guiding principles emphasise the importance of land sharing and sustainable farming practices to improve reptile populations. Addressing the conservation needs of reptiles in agricultural landscapes is critical for biodiversity preservation and requires integrative management strategies that balance agricultural productivity with ecosystem health. While this review focused on Australian temperate agricultural regions, the management actions presented are likely to be applicable to other Mediterranean regions.