Influence of Life History Traits on Trophic Niche Segregation between Two Similar Sympatric Tupinambis Lizards

GUADALUPE LÓPEZ JURI; SERGIO NARETTO; ANA CAROLINA MATEOS; MARGARITA CHIARAVIGLIO; GABRIELA CARDOZO

South American Journal of Herpetology

Brazilian Society of Herpetology

Año: 2015 vol. 10 p. 132 - 142

1808-9798

Segregation of habitat resources is an important mechanism that allows the coexistence of species. The diet is an important anddynamic component that can generate interactions among co-existing species. Differences in food resource use between related sympatricspecies have been associated frequently with divergence in multiple phenotypic traits; hence, it is interesting to explore how phenotypic differencesallow sympatric species to minimize niche overlap. We aimed to evaluate trophic niche segregation between Tupinambis merianaeand T. rufescens in relation to life history traits in a sympatric zone. We compared the volume of the stomach food items between speciesconsidering sexual dimorphism, body size classes, sexual maturity and reproductive activity. The obtained Morisita?s index indicated trophicniche overlap between T. merianae and T. rufescens; however, considering particular food items, we observed differences in diet composition.Moreover, our results indicate that body size, sexual maturity and reproductive activity are relevant factors influencing the diet of these species.Life history traits of these two species of Tupinambis are important because they shape diet composition, contributing to interspecificsegregation of the trophic niche and, therefore, allowing species coexistence.