ABSTRACT Detailed investigations of ecology and life history of lizards in New Zealand/Aotearoa are needed to inform their conservation and management. An early demographic study of copper skinks (Oligosoma aeneum) in a suburban garden was undertaken in Lower Hutt using mark–recapture methods, sampling weekly from March 1971 to December 1973. Oligosoma aeneum were seen on 1372 occasions, with 972 captures of 169 individuals. The maximum snout–vent length was 66 mm, 33% of skinks had complete tails, and colour differences suggested sexual signalling and warrant further study. Most captures occurred over November–March, with fewest over June–August. The estimated spring/summer population size in the garden (± SEM) was 83.6 (± 9.4) skinks, and the annual survival rate (± SEM) was 38.0% (± 16.0%). This is one of the few New Zealand lizard studies that have extended through all months of the year and it adds to limited information on lizard populations in suburban areas.

中文翻译：

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郊区的蜥蜴：对新西兰地方性小石龙子 (Oligosoma aeneum) 的单一花园研究

摘要 新西兰 / Aotearoa 蜥蜴的生态学和生活史的详细调查需要为它们的保护和管理提供信息。对郊区花园中的铜石龙子 (Oligosoma aeneum) 的早期人口统计研究是在下哈特使用标记-重新捕获方法进行的，从 1971 年 3 月到 1973 年 12 月每周采样一次。 1372 次发现了铜石龙子，其中 972 次捕获了 169 只个体。最大的鼻孔长度为 66 毫米，33% 的石龙子有完整的尾巴，颜色差异表明性信号，值得进一步研究。大多数捕获发生在 11 月至 3 月，最少发生在 6 月至 8 月。估计园内春夏种群规模（± SEM）为83.6（± 9.4）只石龙子，年存活率（± SEM）为38.0%（± 16.0%）。