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The Durrell Trust for Conservation Biology
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Nina Cornish
nc96 CV
MSc research entitled “Phylogeography and conservation of Jersey’s Wall Lizards Podarcis muralis” Wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) on the island of Jersey are near the northern limit of their geographical range. Wall lizards have a wide distribution in continental Europe, occurring almost throughout France, Italy and northern Spain. In Eastern Europe, they are found from Hungary southwards to the Balkans (Noble & Quayle, 2000). The Jersey population of wall lizards is typical of other northern European localities in that the species is generally restricted to old fortifications and castle walls, creating small, isolated populations. These lizard populations are fully protected under the Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000.
Aims of the research include:
This project builds upon previous research on the Jersey herpetofauna that has received considerable international exposure and provides an excellent model for demonstrating how applied molecular ecology and conservation genetic research can feed directly into conservation management.
Funding The Jersey Ecology Fund
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MSc by Research, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent
Issues surrounding the origins of the Jersey wall lizard are contentious and uncertain. The lizards live in relatively small, fragmented populations and the structure of their populations/sub-populations is unclear. In order to assign conservation priorities and address the conservation needs of these Jersey lizard populations, it is important to clarify their (possibly separate) origins, assess their total distribution in Jersey and investigate the viability of their populations.