Selection of Microhabitat by the Introduced Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus Turcicus: Influence of Ambient Light and Distance to Refuge

Williams, S. C.; McBrayer, Lance D.

doi:10.1894/0038-4909(2007)52[578:sombti]2.0.co;2

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Seasonal changes in prey uptake were reported for tree agama in southern Africa . Variations in diet are also reported for the widespread invasive gecko species of the genus Hemidactylus , which are well adapted to human surroundings and often attracted by artificial lights on house walls . Diet changes might in turn explain variations in Basidiobolus spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…This might appear somewhat surprising given that gecko lizards can move around, thereby potentially entering or exiting houses. However, it is known that geckos are territorial and occupy microhabitats . Less dominant geckos such as juveniles might therefore stay away from feeding places such as artificial lights attracting flying insects on the outside of houses, while places inside houses are microhabitats with different prey available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…which are well adapted to human surroundings and often attracted by artificial lights on house walls. 44,46 Diet changes might in turn explain variations in Basidiobolus spp. burden in reptile faeces as was demonstrated for lizards.…”

Section: Claussen and Schmidtmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First‐time isolation and quantification of Basidiobolus spp. from reptile faeces in KwaZulu‐Natal (South Africa) using selective media

Claußen

Schmidt

2018

Mycoses

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Summary Members of the genus Basidiobolus are potentially pathogenic fungi, known to cause mycoses in tropical and subtropical countries. Basidiobolus spp. can be associated with animals, and reptiles and amphibians are candidate vectors for the distribution of this fungus. The presence of Basidiobolus spp. was described for different reptiles in several African countries, although not for South Africa. In addition, quantitative data are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse faeces of selected South African reptiles for the presence and quantity of “viable Basidiobolus units.” Faecal samples of gecko and agama lizards were collected and analysed using spread plating, with confirmation by PCR. The addition of dichloran and benomyl to standard fungal media improved the selectivity and allowed quantification of Basidiobolus spp. in reptile faeces. The amount of Basidiobolus spp. varied between 300 and 1.4 × 106 CFU per gram of pooled gecko faeces, which mostly corresponds to >1000 CFU per outside dropping and <100 CFU per inside dropping. About 60% of analysed agama faeces carried Basidiobolus spp., ranging from 150 to 1.2 × 105 CFU per dropping. Our results show for the first time that faeces of South African reptiles frequently carry Basidiobolus spp., confirming that they can contribute to the distribution of this fungus.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First‐time isolation and quantification of Basidiobolus spp. from reptile faeces in KwaZulu‐Natal (South Africa) using selective media

Claußen

Schmidt

2018

Mycoses

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“…Hemidactylus have flourished in many of the areas to which they have been introduced, notably in the ‘house gecko’ niche (Williams & McBrayer 2007; Hoskin 2011). They can frequently be seen and heard as they forage around human habitation at night, feeding on insects that have been attracted to artificial lights.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between native and invasive gecko lizards in tropical Australia

et al. 2011

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Invasive geckos of the genus Hemidactylus (Gekkonidae) are spreading rapidly through urban environments in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The invaders have caused rapid declines in native gecko abundance in some areas, but their interactions with Australian native species remain unknown. In a small rural village near Darwin, we found that Hemidactylus frenatus is abundant around both lighted and unlighted buildings, but rarely found in surrounding bushland. It is sympatric with the larger Gehyra australis (Gekkonidae) in this disturbed site, and often forages on the same buildings, but is active mostly during the dry-season (vs. wet-season for G. australis) and is competitively subordinate to the larger native species. In laboratory encounters, H. frenatus fled from G. australis, and modified its refuge-site use in the presence of the native lizard. In those same trials, the native gecko often attacked and rarely fled; and did not shift its refuge-site selection. In field surveys, the two taxa frequently co-occurred. However, substrate use of the invasive H. frenatus was modified by the presence of the native G. australis, consistent with competitive displacement. Our counts of H. frenatus were highest during the dry-season, when G. australis (like most other small native reptiles) is relatively inactive. The invasive gecko thus appears to be exploiting a 'vacant niche' around buildings, rather than displacing the native gecko taxon. This outcome may reflect the size disparity between the native species and the invader; Hemidactylus frenatus may well have significant ecological impacts on smaller native lizards.

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“…Mediterranean geckos prowl around on the outside walls of buildings at night to locate small arthropods, many of which are attracted to outside lighting (Saenz 1996, Punzo 2001. During the day, geckos hide behind building features, such as drain pipes or light fixtures, or in holes or cracks in building masonry (Rose andBarbour 1968, Williams andMcBrayer 2007).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth Rates of the Mediterranean Gecko,Hemidactylus turcicus, in Southwestern Louisiana

Paulissen¹,

Meyer²,

Hibbs³

2014

Western North American Naturalist

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Selection of Microhabitat by the Introduced Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus Turcicus: Influence of Ambient Light and Distance to Refuge

Cited by 18 publications

References 19 publications

First‐time isolation and quantification of Basidiobolus spp. from reptile faeces in KwaZulu‐Natal (South Africa) using selective media

First‐time isolation and quantification of Basidiobolus spp. from reptile faeces in KwaZulu‐Natal (South Africa) using selective media

Interactions between native and invasive gecko lizards in tropical Australia

Growth Rates of the Mediterranean Gecko,Hemidactylus turcicus, in Southwestern Louisiana

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