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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Thermal ecology, activity pattern, habitat, and microhabitats used by the skink Mabuya arajara (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Araripe Plateau, northeastern Brazil

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Author(s):
Ribeiro, Samuel Cardozo [1, 2, 3] ; Teles, Diego Alves [4] ; Mesquita, Daniel Oliveira [4] ; Almeida, Waltecio de Oliveira [1, 2] ; dos Anjos, Luciano Alves [5] ; Guarnieri, Miriam Camargo [6]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Reg Cariri URCA, Programa Posgrad Bioprospeccao Mol, Crato - Brazil
[2] Univ Reg Cariri URCA, Dept Quim Biol, Crato - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed Cariri UFCA, IFE, Lab Biol & Ecol Anim Silvestres LABEAS, Juazeiro Do Norte, Ceara - Brazil
[4] Univ Fed Paraiba UFPB, Dept Sistemat & Ecol, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba - Brazil
[5] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol & Zootecnia, Fac Engn Ilha Solteira, Campus Ilha Solteira, Ilha Solteira - Brazil
[6] UNIFESP Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolut, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Natural History; v. 53, n. 39-40, p. 2365-2377, OCT 26 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

We evaluated the activity period, thermal ecology, habitats, and preference for microhabitats of the skink Mabuya arajara in a humid forest environment on the slope of the Araripe Plateau, Brazil. A total of 283 lizards were observed. The lizards were found to be diurnally active (unimodal type pattern), with peak activity during the hottest hours of the day (1100 to 1200). About habitat use, the majority of individuals (73.8% N = 209) were recorded in the narrow transitional area, in the edges of the forest; while 26.4% of individuals were observed in open areas and no observations were made in dense forest. Seven different types of microhabitats were used, with fallen palm leaves (Arecaceae) being the preferred (47.7% N = 135). Considering all lizards, microhabitat niche breadth was 3.27. Males and females presented a high overlap (0.95) in microhabitat use. The average T-c recorded for M. arajara was 32.06 +/- 2.72 degrees C. Body size (SVL) did not influence body temperature (F = 0.51, P = > 0.05). Most of the animals were observed with their bodies completely exposed (67.84%, N = 192), 18.37% (N = 52) were semi-exposed and 13.79% (N = 39) were in shelters. Among animals with some degree of sunlight exposure, 57.59% (N = 163) were in shadows, 25.10% (N = 71) were under sunlight filtered by vegetation, and 17.31% (N = 49) were under direct sunlight.A review of the ecology of Mabuya spp. shows that several features appear to be conserved among members of the genus. (AU)