https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2020.451
Microhabitat selection of the Western green lizard Lacerta bilineata
Submitted: 30 March 2020
Accepted: 14 September 2020
Published: 28 October 2020
Accepted: 14 September 2020
Abstract Views: 2238
PDF: 680
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
We examined the characteristics of microhabitats selected by Western green lizards, Lacerta bilineata. Model selection was carried out with the Information-theoretic approach that focuses on the estimation of effect size and measures of its precision. Our results show that the Western green lizard selects positively sites with good shrub cover, necessary as shelter, while it avoids areas with bare soil where there are no refuges. Additionally, lizards showed a positive selection of rocks (located exclusively in artificial riverbanks) that represent a suitable habitat for thermoregulation and sheltering. The results of our work, and particularly the negative effects of bare soil and the positive effects of shrub cover, confirm the need to restore the network of hedgerows and other linear elements in cultivated landscapes in order to create suitable areas for L. bilineata.
Amo L., López P. & Martín J., 2007a - Natural oak forest vs. ancient pine plantations: lizard microhabitat use may explain the effects of ancient reforestations on distribution and conservation of Iberian lizards. Biodiversity and Conservation, 16: 3409-3422.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-006-9003-3
Amo L., López P. & Martín J., 2007b - Habitat deterioration affects body condition of lizards: A behavioral approach with Iberolacerta cyreni lizards inhabiting ski resorts. Biological Conservation, 135: 77-85.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.09.020
Amo L., López P. & Martín J., 2007c - Habitat deterioration affects antipredatory behavior, body condition, and parasite load of female Psammodromus algirus lizards. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 85: 743-751.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/Z07-052
Anderson D.R., Burnham K.P. & Thompson W.L., 2000 - Null hypothesis testing: problems, prevalence, and an alternative. Journal of Wildlife Management, 64: 912-923.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3803199
Anderson D.R., Link W.A. & Burnham K.P., 2001 - Suggestions for presenting the results of data analyses. Journal of Wildlife Management, 65: 373-378.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3803088
Anderson D.R. & Burnham K.P., 2002 - Avoiding pitfalls when using information-theoretic methods. Journal of Wildlife Management, 66: 912-918.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3803155
Angelici F.M., Luiselli L. & Rugiero L., 1997 - Food habits of the green lizard, Lacerta bilineata, in central Italy and a reliability test of faecal pellet analysis. Italian Journal of Zoology, 64: 267-272.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/11250009709356207
Avery R.A., 1982 - Field studies of body temperature and thermoregulation. In: Biology of the Reptilia, Gans C. & Pough F.H. (eds.). Academic Press, New York, 12: 93-166.
Barbieri F. & Gentilli A., 2002 - Gli Anfibi e i Rettili del Parco Ticino. Consorzio Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino.
Blomberg S. & Shine R., 2006 - Reptiles. In: Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook. Sutherland W.J. (ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 297-307.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511790508.009
Boudjemadi K., Lecomte J. & Clobert J., 1999 - Influence of connectivity on demography and dispersal in two contrasting habitats: an experimental approach. Journal of Animal Ecology, 68: 1207-1224.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.1999.00363.x
Burnham K.P. & Anderson D.R., 2002 - Model Selection and Multi-Model Inference. A practical information-theoretic approach. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Carrascal L.M., Díaz J.A. & Cano D.C., 1989 - Habitat selection of Iberian Psammodromus species along a Mediterranean successional gradient. Amphibia-Reptilia, 10: 231-242.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156853889X00403
Carrascal L.M., López P., Martín J. & Salvador A., 1992 - Basking and antipredator behaviour in a high altitude lizard: implications of heat-exchange rate. Ethology, 92: 143-154.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1992.tb00955.x
Castilla A.M. & Bauwens D., 1992 - Habitat selection by the lizard Lacerta lepida in a Mediterranean oak forest. Herpetological Journal, 2: 27-30.
Corti C. & Lo Cascio P., 2002 - The Lizards of Italy and Adjacent Areas. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.
Council of Europe, 1979 - Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Bern, Switzerland. Available at https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/104.
Council of Europe, 1992 - Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:31992L0043.
Díaz J.A. & Carrascal L.M., 1991 - Regional distribution of a Mediterranean lizard: influence of habitat cues and prey abundance. Journal of Biogeography, 18: 291-297.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2845399
Díaz J.A., Monasterio C. & Salvador A., 2006 - Abundance, microhabitat selection and conservation of eyed lizards (Lacerta lepida): a radiotelemetric study. Journal of Zoology, 268: 295-301.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2005.00031.x
Elbing K., Nettmann H.K. & Rykena S., 1997 - Green lizards in central Europe: status, threats and research necessary for conservation. In: Herpetologia Bonnensis: Proceedings of the 8th Ordinary General Meeting of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica 23-27 August 1995. Böhme W., Bischoff W. & Ziegler T. (eds.). SEH, Bonn, 105-113.
Ficetola G.F. & De Bernardi F., 2004 - Amphibians in a human-dominated landscape: the community structure is related to habitat features and isolation. Biological Conservation, 119: 219-230.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2003.11.004
Huey R.B., 1982 - Temperature, physiology and the ecology of reptiles. In: Biology of the Reptilia. Gans C. & Pough F.H. (eds.). Academic Press, New York, 12: 25-91.
Le Galliard J. F., Ferrière R. & Clobert J., 2005 - Effect of patch occupancy on immigration in the common lizard. Journal of Animal Ecology, 74: 241-249.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.00912.x
Martín J. & López P., 1998 - Shifts in microhabitat use by the lizard Psammodromus algirus: responses to seasonal changes in vegetation structure. Copeia, 3: 780-786.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1447815
Martín J. & López P., 2002 - The effect of Mediterranean dehesa management on lizard distribution and conservation. Biological Conservation, 108: 213-219.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00107-6
Martín J. & Salvador A., 1992 - Tail loss consequences on habitat use by the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola. Oikos, 65: 328-333.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3545026
Martín J. & Salvador A., 1995 - Microhabitat selection by Iberian rock lizard Lacerta monticola: effect on density and spatial distribution of individuals. Biological Conservation, 79: 303-307.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(95)00110-7
Mazerolle M.J., 2006 - Improving data analysis in herpetology: using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) to assess the strength of biological hypotheses. Amphibia-Reptilia, 27: 169-180.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156853806777239922
Meek R., 2014 - Temporal distributions, habitat associations and behaviour of the green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) and wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) on roads in a fragmented landscape in Western France. Acta Herpetologica, 9: 179-186.
Oppio A., Corsi S., Mattia S. & Tosini A., 2015 - Exploring the relationship among local conflicts and territorial vulnerability: The case study of Lombardy Region. Land Use Policy, 43: 239-247.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.11.006
Pellitteri-Rosa D., Gentilli A., Sacchi R., Scali S., Pupin F., Razzetti E., Bernini F. & Fasola M., 2008 - Factors affecting repatriation success of the endangered Italian agile frog (Rana latastei). Amphibia-Reptilia, 29: 235-244.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156853808784124910
Perera A. & Pérez-Mellado V., 2004 - Photographic identification as a non-invasive marking technique for lacertid lizards. Herpetological Review, 35: 349-350.
Pérez-Mellado V., Cheylan M., Geniez P., Nettmann H.K., Schmidt B., Podloucky R., Sindaco R. & Romano A., 2009 - Lacerta bilineata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. . Downloaded on 21 March 2013.
Pernat A., Sellier Y., Préau C. & Beaune D., 2017 - Effet du pâturage sur le lézard vert occidental (Lacerta bilineata Daudin, 1802) (Squamata: Lacertidae) en milieu de landes. Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France, 161: 57-66.
Pilon N., 2004 - Aspetti climatici. In: Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili della Lombardia. Bernini F., Bonini L., Ferri V., Gentilli A., Razzetti E. & Scali S. (eds.). Monografie di Pianura 5, Cremona, 34-35.
Rubio J.L. & Carrascal L.M., 1994 - Habitat selection and conservation of an endemic Spanish lizard Algyroides marchi (Reptilia, Lacertidae). Biological Conservation, 70: 245-250.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(94)90169-4
Sacchi R., Scali S., Pellitteri-Rosa D., Pupin F., Gentilli A., Tettamanti S., Cavigioli L., Racina L., Maiocchi V., Galeotti P. & Fasola M., 2010 - Photographic identification in reptiles: a matter of scales. Amphibia-Reptilia, 31: 489-502.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/017353710X521546
Sacchi R., Marchesi M., Gentilli A., Pellitteri-Rosa D., Scali S. & Borelli A., 2011 - Western green lizards (Lacerta bilineata) do not select the composition or structure of the ecotones in Northern Italy. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 7: 213-221.
Saint Girons M.C., 1977 - Le cycle de l’activité chez Lacerta viridis et ses rapports avec la structure sociale. La Terre et la Vie, 31: 101-116.
Saint Girons H., Castanet J., Bradshaw S.D. & Baron J.P., 1989 - Demographie comparee de deux populations francaises de Lacerta viridis (Laurenti, 1789). Revue d'écologie, 44: 361-386.
Scali S., Manfredi M.T. & Guidali F., 2001 - Lacerta bilineata (Reptilia, Lacertidae) as a host of Ixodes ricinus (Acari, Ixodidae) in a protected area of Northern Italy. Parassitologia 43: 165-168.
Scali S. & Schiavo R.M., 2004 - Ramarro occidentale (Lacerta bilineata Daudin, 1802). In: Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili della Lombardia. Bernini F., Bonini L., Ferri V., Gentilli A., Razzetti E. & Scali S. (eds.). Monografie di Pianura 5, Cremona, 130-132.
Schiavo R.M. & Venchi A., 2006 - Lacerta bilineata Daudin, 1802. In: Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili d’Italia / Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles. Sindaco R., Doria G., Razzetti E. & Bernini F. (eds.). Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze, 454-459.
Speed C.W., Meekan M.G. & Bradshaw C.J., 2007 - Spot the match - wildlife photo-identification using information theory. Frontiers in Zoology, 4: 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-9994-4-2
SPSS Inc. Released, 2007 - SPSS for Windows, Version 15.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.
Steinicke H., Ulbrich K., Henle K. & Grosse W.R., 2000 - Eine neue Methode zur fotografischen Individualidentifikation mitteleuropäischer Halsbandeidechsen (Lacertidae). Salamandra, 36: 81-88.
Sugiura N., 1978 - Further analysis of the data by Akaike’s information criterion and the finite corrections. Comm. Statist. Theory Methods, A7: 13-26.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03610927808827599
Van Tienhoven A.M., Den Hartog J.E., Reijns R.A. & Peddemors V.M., 2007 - A computer-aided program for pattern-matching of natural marks on the spotted raggedtooth shark Carcharias taurus. Journal of Applied Ecology, 44: 273-280.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01273.x
Venchi A., 2000 - Lacerta bilineata Daudin, 1802. In: Anfibi e Rettili del Lazio. Bologna M.A., Capula M. & Carpaneto G.M. (eds.). Fratelli Palombi Editori, Roma, 82-83.
Wilcox B.A. & Murphy D.D., 1985 - Conservation strategy: The effects of fragmentation on extinction. American Naturalist, 125: 879-887.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/284386
How to Cite
Luppi, M., Gentilli, A., & Bogliani, G. (2020). Microhabitat selection of the Western green lizard <em>Lacerta bilineata</em>. Natural History Sciences, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2020.451
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Agostino Brusco, Roberto Marchianò, Giuseppe Dodaro, Corrado Battisti, Non-volant mammals of the ‘Lago di Tarsia’ Regional Nature Reserve and Special Conservation Area (IT93100055; Cosenza, Southern Italy) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022)
- Giuseppe Rijllo, Sara la Cava, Giada Zucco, Stefano Scalercio, Gone with the wind? Condica capensis (Guenée 1852), a migrant species new for Italy (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 11 No. 1 (2024)
- Augusto Degiovanni, Maurizio Pavesi, Notes on the subspecies of Pterostichus andreinii Dodero, 1922 (Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 4 No. 1 (2017)
- Maurizio Biondi, Mauro Daccordi, Laura Farina, Davide Sassi, Stefano Zoia, To Carlo Leonardi entomologist, friend, and mentor, on his 80th birthday , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. s1 (2023)
- Enrico Banfi, Renato Ferlinghetti, Primula ×chignolensis (Ericales: Primulaceae), a new primrose hybrid discovered in Val Seriana (northern Italy) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 11 No. 1 (2024)
- Ron Beenen, Taxonomic, nomenclatural and faunistic data for galerucine leaf beetles from Africa, with description of Rohania leonardii n. sp. from Kenya (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. s1 (2023)
- Gianfranco Liberti, The Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830, of Greece (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Dasytidae). A contribution to their knowledge , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 6 No. 1 (2019)
- Paola D’Alessandro, Elizabeth Grobbelaar, Mattia Iannella, Maurizio Biondi, Calotheca leonardii, a new flea beetle species from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. s1 (2023)
- Giovanni Pasini, Alessandro Garassino, Critical review of fossil record of Ranina Lamarck, 1801 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Raninidae), with description of Tethyranina n. gen. , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 5 No. 2 (2018)
- Corrado Battisti, Stefania Chiesa, Luca Gallitelli, Massimiliano Scalici, Further evidence of the occurrence of the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) along the central Tyrrhenian coast , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. 2 (2023)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
