Identification of causes of these extirpations is complicated by the snake's elimination of an important avian skink predator, the concurrent irruption of a shrew, and the effects of predation and competition between the native skinks and an introduced skink.
(Identification of causes of these extirpations; is complicated; by the snake's elimination of an important avian skink predator)
Identification of causes of these extirpations
is complicated
by the snake's elimination of an important avian skink predator