Geographical Ecology of Tropidurus hispidus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) and Cnemidophorus ocellifer (Squamata: Teiidae) in a Neotropical Region: A Comparison among Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and Coastal Populations
Both phylogenetic and environmental forces can drive ecological variation across the geographic distribution of squamates. We compared microhabitat use, temperature, diet, and reproductive data among three Tropidurus hispidus and Cnemidophorus ocellifer populations (Caatinga; Atlantic Forest; and Restinga coastal environments) and tested whether these characteristics varied along that distribution. Tropidurus hispidus was found primarily on human-made structures or tree trunks, and C. ocellifer was more often found on open ground or associated with vegetation. Substrate temperature was the most influential factor on body temperature, and no difference in body temperatures was observed among populations. Overall, diet composition was similar among populations; however, some differences were observed for main prey categories for C. ocellifer. Mean clutch size (T. hispidus = 6 eggs; C. ocellifer = 2 eggs) did not significantly differ among populations. Tropidurus hispidus seems to avoid reproducing during the dry season, exhibiting seasonal reproduction in the Caatinga and continuous reproduction in the Restinga and Atlantic Forest. Cnemidophorus ocellifer exhibited seasonal reproduction in the Tabuleiro region of the Atlantic Forest and continuous reproduction in the other two environments. Microhabitat use, diet, and reproductive cycle varied among populations of each species, whereas body temperature and clutch size remained unaltered, showing the importance of both ecological and historical factors along their geographic range. Ao longo de sua distribuição geográfica, os Squamata podem apresentar variações ecológicas causadas pelas diferentes pressões de cada ambiente. Comparamos o uso de microhábitat, temperatura, dieta, dados reprodutivos de três populações de Tropidurus hispidus e Cnemidophorus ocellifer da Caatinga, Restinga e Mata Atlântica. Tropidurus hispidus foi mais encontrado em edificações e troncos de árvores, enquanto C. ocellifer foi mais encontrado em solos abertos ou associados a algum tipo de vegetação. A temperatura do substrato foi a que mais influenciou a temperatura corpórea dos lagartos e não houve diferença nas temperaturas corpóreas entre populações. Em geral, a dieta foi similar entre populações de cada espécie, exceto por algumas das principais presas consumidas por C. ocellifer. A média do tamanho da ninhada (T. hispidus = 6; C. ocellifer = 2) não variou significativamente entre populações. Tropidurus hispidus parece evitar reproduzir-se em épocas secas, exibindo reprodução sazonal na Caatinga, mas contínua na Restinga e Floresta Atlântica. Cnemidophorus ocellifer apresentou reprodução sazonal na região de Tabuleiro (Floresta Atlântica) e contínua nos demais ambientes. Em suma, uso de microhábitat, dieta, e ciclo reprodutivo variaram entre as populações de cada espécie, enquanto temperatura corpórea e tamanho da ninhada permaneceram inalteradas, mostrando a importância tanto de fatores ecológicos quanto históricos ao longo da distribuição geográfica dessas espécies.Abstract
Resumo
Collection sites for Cnemidophorus ocellifer and Tropidurus hispidus from this study. Numbers refer to each field site: 1 = restinga of Barra do Cunhaú, Canguaretama municipality; 2 = Atlantic Forest where T. hispidus were collected, João Pessoa municipality; 3 = Atlantic Forest where C. ocellifer were collected, Mamanguape municipality; 4 = Caatinga, Cabaceiras municipality.
Microhabitat use percentages of Cnemidophorus ocellifer and Tropidurus hispidus lizards from Caatinga, Restinga, and Atlantic Forest populations. Numbers represent sample sizes.
Annual reproductive cycle of Tropidurus hispidus lizards from Caatinga, Restinga, and Atlantic Forest populations. Bars represent percentages of reproductively active adult females and males, with the numbers above bars representing the total number of adult lizards. Line represents annual variation of monthly pluviometric averages.
Monthly distribution of Tropidurus hispidus and Cnemidophorus ocellifer individuals from Caatinga, Restinga, and Atlantic Forest lizard populations, according to snout–vent length (mm).
Annual reproductive cycle of Cnemidophorus ocellifer lizards from Caatinga, Restinga, and Atlantic Forest populations. Bars represent percentages of reproductively active adult females and males, with the numbers above bars representing the total number of adult lizards. Line represents annual variation of monthly pluviometric averages.
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