Space use by Lagartixa-de-Areia Liolaemus lutzae Mertens, 1938 (Liolaemidae), introduced experimentally in Praia das Neves, Espírito Santo / Uso do espaço pela Lagartixa-de-Areia Liolaemus lutzae Mertens, 1938 (Liolaemidae), introduzida experimentalmente na Praia das Neves, Espírito Santo.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The Liolaemus lutzae liolaemid lizard is endemic of Rio de Janeiro State, restricted to restinga between Marambaia and Cabo Frio and inserted in the red list of threatened animals as critically endangered. In 1986, 51 individuals of the population of the beach in the restinga of Barra de Maricá were translocated to the same in the restinga habitat of Praia das Neves, in the State of Espirito Santo. To test the hypothesis of niche conservatism of L. lutzae, I studied its use of space and the relationships with the niche neighbors. The knowledge of the impact of introduced species in nature has also been extended, showing how L. lutzae use the resources offered on the beach at the restinga of Praia das Neves. The study was conducted between June 2007 and November 2008. Individuals were geo-referred and the use of categories of micro-habitat at the time of observation was recorded, to measure the niche space and compare preferences for categories. Potential predators of the lagartixa-de-areia were also recorded. During the 17 months of data collection in the Restinga of Praia das Neves, I capture and marked 81 individuals of L. lutzae, with four of these were recaptured only once and only 29 specimens have been sighted, totaling 114 records of this lizard. The resource use of the white-sand-lizard differed from the proportions of resources offered on the beach, showing that L. lutzae have preference for certain categories of micro-habitat. The width of the niche space of L. lutzae index obtained was B = 5.870. The remaining lizards found on the beach of the restinga obtained the following index of niche width: Ameiva ameiva B = 1.00; Hemidactylus mabouia B = 4.46; Mabuya agilis B = 2.00, Tropidurus torquatus B = 6.00. Measures of niche overlap among lizards showed that the species of lizard with a niche closer to L. lutzae is the gekkonid Hemidactylus mabouia (φ = 0.638), closely followed by Tropidurus torquatus (φ = 0.631). The niches of L. lutzae and Mabuya agilis overlap index were equal to 0.436. The set of results shows that the niche of L. lutzae is conservative. The lizard is able to expand its area of distribution in the restinga of Praia das Neves, restricting itself to the beach. Among the species of vertebrates observed, 18 species are potential predators of the white-sand-lizard. There was no correlation between L. lutzae with potential predators in the restinga beach, showing a distribution of the lizard habitat independent of pressure from predators. I suggest the creation of a conservation unit in the restinga of Praia das Neves as a priority.

ASSUNTO(S)

conservadorismo de nicho uso de espaço translocação translocation space use introduction morfologia dos grupos recentes introdução. niche conservatism

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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