Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity

This study provides a descriptive panorama of the lizard communities on 3 islands and the mainland on the Pacific coast of Mexico, estimating the effect of insularity (ecological changes between lizards on the islands and on the mainland) on lizard populations. The panorama included the number of s...

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Main Authors: Héctor Hugo Siliceo-Cantero, Julieta Benítez-Malvido, Ireri Suazo-Ortuño
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2023-02-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/4068
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author Héctor Hugo Siliceo-Cantero
Julieta Benítez-Malvido
Ireri Suazo-Ortuño
author_facet Héctor Hugo Siliceo-Cantero
Julieta Benítez-Malvido
Ireri Suazo-Ortuño
author_sort Héctor Hugo Siliceo-Cantero
collection DOAJ
description This study provides a descriptive panorama of the lizard communities on 3 islands and the mainland on the Pacific coast of Mexico, estimating the effect of insularity (ecological changes between lizards on the islands and on the mainland) on lizard populations. The panorama included the number of species, encounter frequency and age classes. The insularity effects were estimated by comparing these variables, as well as basking behavior, activity related to microclimate, and perch height among the islands and the mainland. Of 11 species recorded, 8 occurred on the islands; however, every insular community was composed of 3 to 5 species (4 are protected by Mexican law). The encounter frequency for all species ranged between 11 and 0.1 individuals per hour. Lizard communities were predominantly composed of adults. Only 2 lizard species, Aspidoscelis communis and A. lineattissima, were shared among all sites, showing no insularity effects on the encounter frequency nor basking behavior. There were signs of insularity, however, on age classes and a clear effect on perch height, suggesting niche expansion. The study contributes to the regional knowledge of lizard species, as well as to ecological theories such as niche expansion and density compensation.
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2007-8706
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publishDate 2023-02-01
publisher Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
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series Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
spelling doaj-art-38593aef96c94006aa919d2da7d316f22025-08-20T03:49:23ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062023-02-019410.22201/ib.20078706e.2023.94.4068Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularityHéctor Hugo Siliceo-Cantero0Julieta Benítez-Malvido1Ireri Suazo-Ortuño2Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Michoacana de San Nicolás Hidalgo This study provides a descriptive panorama of the lizard communities on 3 islands and the mainland on the Pacific coast of Mexico, estimating the effect of insularity (ecological changes between lizards on the islands and on the mainland) on lizard populations. The panorama included the number of species, encounter frequency and age classes. The insularity effects were estimated by comparing these variables, as well as basking behavior, activity related to microclimate, and perch height among the islands and the mainland. Of 11 species recorded, 8 occurred on the islands; however, every insular community was composed of 3 to 5 species (4 are protected by Mexican law). The encounter frequency for all species ranged between 11 and 0.1 individuals per hour. Lizard communities were predominantly composed of adults. Only 2 lizard species, Aspidoscelis communis and A. lineattissima, were shared among all sites, showing no insularity effects on the encounter frequency nor basking behavior. There were signs of insularity, however, on age classes and a clear effect on perch height, suggesting niche expansion. The study contributes to the regional knowledge of lizard species, as well as to ecological theories such as niche expansion and density compensation. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/4068Aspidoscelis communisAspidoscelis lineattissimusDensity compensationEcological releaseHabitat useNiche expansion
spellingShingle Héctor Hugo Siliceo-Cantero
Julieta Benítez-Malvido
Ireri Suazo-Ortuño
Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Aspidoscelis communis
Aspidoscelis lineattissimus
Density compensation
Ecological release
Habitat use
Niche expansion
title Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity
title_full Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity
title_fullStr Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity
title_full_unstemmed Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity
title_short Lizard species on three islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast: effects of insularity
title_sort lizard species on three islands off the mexican pacific coast effects of insularity
topic Aspidoscelis communis
Aspidoscelis lineattissimus
Density compensation
Ecological release
Habitat use
Niche expansion
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/4068
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