Thermal biology and flight distance of<i>Tropidurus oreadicus</i>(Sauria Iguanidae) in an area of Amazonian Brazil

ABSTRACT.This study aimed to analyze the seasonal variation in diet composition and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and T. semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825), as well as measurement of the foraging intensity (number of moves, time spent stationary, distance traveled and number of attacks on prey items) in a caatinga patch on the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Hymenoptera/Formicidae and Isoptera predominated in the diet of both species during the dry season. Opportunistic predation on lepidopteran larvae, coleopteran larvae and adults, and orthopteran nymphs and adults occurred in the wet season; however, hymenopterans/Formicidae were the most important prey items. The number of food items was similar between lizard species in both seasons; however the overlap for number of prey was smaller in the wet season. Preys ingested by T. hispidus during the wet season were also larger than those consumed by T. semitaeniatus. Seasonal comparisons of foraging intensity between the two species differed, mainly in the wet season, when T. hispidus exhibited less movement and fewer attacks on prey, and more time spent stationary if compared to T. semitaeniatus. Although both lizards are sit-and-wait foragers, T. semitaeniatus is more active than T. hispidus. The diet and foraging behavior of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus overlap under limiting conditions during the dry season, and are segregative factors that may contribute to the coexistence of these species in the wet season.KEYWORDS. Diet, foraging strategies, lizards, semiarid, sympatric species. RESUMO. Ecologia trófica e comportamanto de forrageamento deTropidurus hispidus e Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) em uma área de caatinga do nordeste do Brasil. Este estudo objetivou analisar a variação sazonal na composição da dieta e no comportamento de forrageamento de Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) e T. semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825) e medir a intensidade de forrageamento (número de movimentos, tempo gasto parado, distância percorrida e número de ataques sobre itens-presa) destas espécies em uma área do bioma caatinga no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Hymenoptera/Formicidae e Isoptera predominaram na dieta de ambas as espécies durante a estação seca. A predação oportunística de larvas de Lepidoptera, larvas/adultos de Coleoptera e ninfas/adultos de Orthoptera ocorreu na estação chuvosa, contudo as formigas foram os itens-presa mais importantes. O número de itens alimentares foi similar entre as espécies de lagartos em ambas as estações; no entanto a sobreposição para o número de presas foi menor na estação chuvosa. As presas ingeridas durante a estação chuvosa por T. hispidus foram maiores do que aquelas de T. semitaeniatus. As comparações sazonais da intensidade de forrageamento entre as duas espécies mostraram diferenças, principalmente na estação chuvosa, quando T. hispidus apresentou menos movimentos e ataques sobre presas, e mais tempo gasto parado comparado a T. semitaeniatus. Embora ambos os lagartos sejam forrageadores ...

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“…This is similar to all other Tropidurids studied (e.g. RocHa & beRgallo, 1990;Vitt, 1991;colli et al, 1992;Vitt & caRValHo, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Trophic ecology and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in a caatinga area of northeastern Brazil

Ribeiro

Freire²

2011

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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“…However, important information about the reproductive activity of Neotropical lizards has arisen from studies of members from the family Tropiduridae (sensu Frost et al, 2001). In general, tropidurid lizards present their reproductive cycle in seasonal habitats; and studies on the ecology and reproductive cycles of some species of the genus Tropidurus has currently been studied, including T. etheridgei (Cruz, 1997), T. spinulosus (Cruz et al, 1997), T. semitaeniatus (Vitt & Goldberg;Ribeiro et al, 2010); T. montanus (Van Sluys et al); T. hispidus (Vitt & Goldberg;Vitt et al, 1996), T. oreadicus (Rocha & Bergallo, 1990), T. itambere (Van Sluys;Ferreira et al, 2009) and T. torquatus (Bergallo & Rocha, 1993Giaretta, 1996;Vieira et al;Wiederhecker et al) (see Table III). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Strategies of Brazilian Lizards of the Genus Tropidurus Rodrigues, 1987 (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in the Temporal and Spatial

2011

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Estrategias Reproductivas de las Lagartijas Brasileñas del Género SUMMARY:Reproductive strategy is the set of adaptations that promote the most efficient way that the species will survive under the particular conditions of a determined environment. Understanding these adaptations is important and can help pinpoint populations indicator of environmental changes. Spermatogenesis is a measurable biological process of these adaptations in spatial and temporal scales. We analyzed the morphology of the testes and oviducts of the lizard species that comprise the genus Tropidurus, taking into account the geographical distribution and sympatric relations. For the analysis and the testes were removed from the middle part of the oviducts from Tropidurus etheridge, T. oreadicus, T. itambere, T. spinulosus and T. Guarani species, collected in different places in the Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The reproductive period is synchronous for males and females and occurs in September, October and November. Reproductive males were characterized. In the testes are seminiferous tubules with germ cells at different stages of spermatogenesis, with a high epithelium, at present light, free spermatozoa in the lumen and reduction of interstitial tissue. For females, the reproduction peak occurs when the oviduct epithelium is high with secretions and basal nucleus. These months are characterized in the sampled areas over a period of heavy rain and high temperatures. The decline of reproductive period was observed in both sexes, between April and August. Low reproduction in males is characterized by ample light, absence of sperm, only germ cells in the early stages of spermatogenesis are observed (a few spermatogonia and spermatocytes) and interstitial tissue wide. In females, the period of reproductive decline is marked by the absence of unicellular glands in the oviduct epithelium, with higher affinity with the dye. This period corresponds to low rainfall periods and lower temperatures. We propose an analysis of zoological samples; this is a proposal to facilitate the work of many researchers through access to the species, especially rare species.

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“…When the ambient temperature is low several species flee at greater distances when the predator approach than when the ambient temperature is high (Rand, 1964;Rocha and Bergallo, 1990;Smith, 1997). Other species become more aggressive or show a cryptic escape strategy at lower temperatures whereas they immediately flight at higher body temperatures (Hertz et al, 1982;Layne and Ford, 1984;Shine et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some species of lizards, the escape response has been related to temperature (Hertz et al, 1982;Rocha and Bergallo, 1990;Smith, 1997;Cooper, 2000). Animals could not be captured immediately after each trial in order to measure their body temperature.…”

Section: Escape Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of predation pressure on the escape behaviour of Podarcis muralis lizards

Diego-Rasilla¹

2003

Behavioural Processes

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Thermal biology and flight distance ofTropidurus oreadicus(Sauria Iguanidae) in an area of Amazonian Brazil

Cited by 78 publications

References 15 publications

Trophic ecology and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in a caatinga area of northeastern Brazil

Trophic ecology and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in a caatinga area of northeastern Brazil

Reproductive Strategies of Brazilian Lizards of the Genus Tropidurus Rodrigues, 1987 (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in the Temporal and Spatial

Influence of predation pressure on the escape behaviour of Podarcis muralis lizards

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