Eaten out of house and home:impacts of grazing on ground-dwelling reptiles in Australian grasslands and grassy woodlands

Large mammalian grazers can alter the biotic and abiotic features of their environment through their impacts on vegetation. Grazing at moderate intensity has been recommended for biodiversity conservation. Few studies, however, have empirically tested the benefits of moderate grazing intensity in systems dominated by native grazers. Here we investigated the relationship between (1) density of native eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, and grass structure, and (2) grass structure and reptiles (i.e. abundance, richness, diversity and occurrence) across 18 grassland and grassy Eucalyptus woodland properties in south-eastern Australia. There was a strong negative relationship between kangaroo density and grass structure after controlling for tree canopy cover. We therefore used grass structure as a surrogate for grazing intensity. Changes in grazing intensity (i.e. grass structure) significantly affected reptile abundance, reptile species richness, reptile species diversity, and the occurrence of several ground-dwelling reptiles. Reptile abundance, species richness and diversity were highest where grazing intensity was low. Importantly, no species of reptile was more likely to occur at high grazing intensities. Legless lizards (Delma impar, D. inornata) were more likely to be detected in areas subject to moderate grazing intensity, whereas one species (Hemiergis talbingoensis) was less likely to be detected in areas subject to intense grazing and three species (Menetia greyii, Morethia boulengeri, and Lampropholis delicata) did not appear to be affected by grazing intensity. Our data indicate that to maximize reptile abundance, species richness, species diversity, and occurrence of several individual species of reptile, managers will need to subject different areas of the landscape to moderate and low grazing intensities and limit the occurrence and extent of high grazing

The Challenge of Hyper-sexual Femininity and Binge Drinking: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Response

In this article I examine the issue of binge drinking and the presentation of hyper-sexual femininity. Such displays present a challenge for feminism: on the one hand ‘new’ femininities have been articulated as a form of female agency and sexual empowerment, yet on the other hand it has been suggested that hyper-sexual femininity does not challenge gender hierarchies enough or in the right way and is a provocation to feminism. By taking a psychoanalytic approach (specifically Jessica Benjamin’s work) we gain explanatory strength in understanding hyper-sexual femininity through the concept of ‘splitting’. Polarities in behaviour and dress are symbolic of a deeper need for recognition in young women and are a perfectly legitimate solution to a number of contradictions, particularly in the British context. Feminist thought can therefore benefit from an engagement with psychoanalytic thought that understands why change does not happen and why normative sex roles hold considerable power