Spatial Ecology of a Threatened Liolaemid Lizard: The Interplay of Intrinsic and Environmental Factors

DAJIL, JUAN ESTEBAN; BLOCK, CAROLINA; VEGA, LAURA E.; STELLATELLI OSCAR

Current Herpetology

Herpetological Society of Japan

Año: 2024

1345-5834

The spatial ecology of animals is influenced by the structure of their physical habitat,which affects the availability of refuges and microclimate, as well as the spatialpositioning of resources. The use of the space of the lizard Liolaemus tandiliensis wasinvestigated in the Tandilia mountains of the Pampas region. We radio-tracked 19 adultlizards and found that home range size and distance moved were significantly affectedby sex, with males having a home range 34% larger and moving longer distances thanfemales. These parameters were also influenced by structural and thermal features ofspecific microhabitat types. The habitat structure inside the home range showedrelatively high coverage of rocks and low coverage of vegetation with respect toenvironmental availability. The thermal properties of the microhabitats were stronglyassociated with their occupancy, since individuals used microhabitats of high thermalquality that exhibited environmental temperatures deviating the least from the preferredbody temperature range of L. tandiliensis. Small-scale structural heterogeneity andthermal gradients were available in the Tandilia mountains, so L. tandiliensisindividuals may not need to move large distances and may sustain themselves within arelatively small home range (mean=74.52 m2). Our findings suggest that L. tandiliensisoccurs in a delicate balance with its specific habitat. This study provides informationthat must be taken into account for conservation planning, especially in light of theincreasing anthropogenic degradation of the Tandilia mountains.