Species composition, abundance and diet of a squamate assemblage from the Carnaval stream headwaters (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

ALCALDE, LEANDRO; CASSANO, MARÍA JULIA; SÁNCHEZ, ROCÍO MARÍA; TENORIO, ANA BELÉN

Urban Ecosystems

Springer US

Lugar: New York; Año: 2019

1083-8155

The present work summarizes 10 years of field observations of an exurbansquamate assemblage occupying a 1200 ha patch in the suburbs of La PlataCity (Los Porteños, Buenos Aires, Argentina). Crossed by two streams (Martinand Carnaval), the area is characterized by intensive horticulture andfloriculture, poultry and pig farming, exhibits a low housing density (1 house/ha), and the roads are largely unpaved. This area is under stress due tocontinuous expansion of the neighboring city in detriment of rural areas,determining a stressing environmental scenario. Field data werecomplemented and contextualized with museum records of the squamatespresent in the area and in neighboring departments of La Plata. The fieldbased species list of squamates from Los Porteños comprises oneamphisbaenian (Amphisbaena darwinii = 26 specimens), five snakes(Paraphimophis rustica = 24, Xenodon dorbignyi = 6, Erythrolampruspoecilogyrus = 3, Erythrolamprus semiaureus = 2, Lygophis anomalus = 1), andone lizard (Salvator merianae = 11). The number of species of squamates in LosPorteños was higher than the expected compared with the species fromsurrounding areas. Fossorial, nocturnal and generalist species were the mostabundant in Los Porteños. These urban adapter species lack dietaryconstraints and their living habits minimize the encounters with humans, whocommonly kill them