Implications of agricultural intensification (rock removal) on cryptozoic fauna

Rocky environments host rich levels of biodiversity and provide vital habitat for specialised organisms, range‐restricted species and a broad range of ectotherms adapted to saxicoline environments. In Australia, rock habitat is being destroyed during soil amelioration practices associated with agricultural intensification. Advances in rock crushing technology, developed to expand or increase crop yields, pose an undocumented threat to global biodiversity, especially reptiles dependent on non‐renewable rock habitat in agricultural landscapes. Through observational studies and natural experiments, our research aims to quantify the ecological roles of rocky outcrops and surface rock habitat in temperate agricultural landscapes to inform land management and restoration practices. In cleared landscapes, insular rocky outcrops support higher reptile diversity than patches of native vegetation. Retreat-sites are characterised by rocks with high surface area to volume ratio, minimally embedded in the soil, and support few invertebrates. Analysis of species geographical range overlap with intensive farming regions, indicates 16% of terrestrial cryptozoic species, including several endangered lizards, are potentially impacted by agricultural intensification. Reptile responses to restored rock meadows resulted in increased number of total reptile captures, total individuals and species richness compared to non-rock control plots. In conclusion, the conservation of reptiles in agricultural landscapes worldwide requires appropriate management and retention of surface rock habitat. Potential yield increases from destroying rock habitat to intensify or expand cropland will not compensate for the net loss of reptile populations dependent on non-renewable resources. To improve biodiversity in farming regions, global restoration projects must incorporate the habitat requirements of cryptozoic fauna.