Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat
The expansion of human activities across natural environments is now well known. This includes agricultural activities that effectively render many former natural environments sterile habitats for animals. Very often, what remains of the natural habitat are hedgerows that serve as habitat or pathway...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/3/169 |
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| author | Roger Meek Luca Luiselli |
| author_facet | Roger Meek Luca Luiselli |
| author_sort | Roger Meek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The expansion of human activities across natural environments is now well known. This includes agricultural activities that effectively render many former natural environments sterile habitats for animals. Very often, what remains of the natural habitat are hedgerows that serve as habitat or pathways for movement between habitats for many species, including reptiles. In this study, we describe population changes in the western green lizard, <i>Lacerta bilineata</i>, in a hedgerow system in western France. The results are derived from a univariate diversity analysis of photographic data to identify individual lizards over a 4-year study period. Lizards were sighted from March April to October early November but there was a midsummer gap in sightings during July–August. The annual presence of individual lizards was low, both between and within years, but based on the diversity analysis, the overall stability of the population was high. Female numbers varied and were highest in 2020, but juveniles were highest in 2023; the numbers of males present each year were approximately the same. Individual lizards that were present before the midsummer gap were mostly absent after the midsummer gap and were replaced by new individuals. Incidences of autotomy were low in males and juveniles and were not recorded in females. In general, the results suggest that the lizards move through hedgerow systems but remain in a specific section for reproduction from March to July. Through this study, we also highlight the importance of univariate diversity formulas to obtain robust results in investigations of the demographic aspects of animal populations that are easy to monitor. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9fcc4fd8d3d04d13b377e400f530de05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:23:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-9fcc4fd8d3d04d13b377e400f530de052024-03-27T13:33:48ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-03-0116316910.3390/d16030169Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal HabitatRoger Meek0Luca Luiselli1Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, Via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, I-00144 Rome, ItalyInstitute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, Via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, I-00144 Rome, ItalyThe expansion of human activities across natural environments is now well known. This includes agricultural activities that effectively render many former natural environments sterile habitats for animals. Very often, what remains of the natural habitat are hedgerows that serve as habitat or pathways for movement between habitats for many species, including reptiles. In this study, we describe population changes in the western green lizard, <i>Lacerta bilineata</i>, in a hedgerow system in western France. The results are derived from a univariate diversity analysis of photographic data to identify individual lizards over a 4-year study period. Lizards were sighted from March April to October early November but there was a midsummer gap in sightings during July–August. The annual presence of individual lizards was low, both between and within years, but based on the diversity analysis, the overall stability of the population was high. Female numbers varied and were highest in 2020, but juveniles were highest in 2023; the numbers of males present each year were approximately the same. Individual lizards that were present before the midsummer gap were mostly absent after the midsummer gap and were replaced by new individuals. Incidences of autotomy were low in males and juveniles and were not recorded in females. In general, the results suggest that the lizards move through hedgerow systems but remain in a specific section for reproduction from March to July. Through this study, we also highlight the importance of univariate diversity formulas to obtain robust results in investigations of the demographic aspects of animal populations that are easy to monitor.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/3/169population ecologylizards<i>Lacerta bilineata</i>univariate metricsecotone |
| spellingShingle | Roger Meek Luca Luiselli Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat Diversity population ecology lizards <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> univariate metrics ecotone |
| title | Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat |
| title_full | Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat |
| title_fullStr | Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat |
| title_short | Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> in an Ecotonal Habitat |
| title_sort | application of univariate diversity metrics to the study of the population ecology of the lizard i lacerta bilineata i in an ecotonal habitat |
| topic | population ecology lizards <i>Lacerta bilineata</i> univariate metrics ecotone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/3/169 |
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