Autoecologia de Gymnodactylus geckoides Spix, 1825 (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) em fragmento de caatinga, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Autoecology and the study of the most varied aspects are of fundamental importance for understanding the natural history and ecology of the species. In addition, such aspects contribute to strategies for environmental and species management and conservation. Therefore, considering that data in the literature on populations of Gymnodactulus geckoides, in the state of Pernambuco remain poorly, or not studied, the present work had as objective an analysis of autoecological aspects, approaching new techniques and perspectives (Variations of periods of drought and rain) never previously used, for analyzes of trophic ecology, microenvironmental specificity , reproductive biology and parasitology, in a population of this lizard species, in the Caatinga area, in the state of Pernambuco. In total, 203 individuals were analysed, according to ingested food, gonadal and body conditions, as well as microhabitat and parasites, 68 females, 98 males and 31 juveniles, plus 6 sighted but not captured animals. As previously discussed, our trophic ecology data also allow us to classifyG. geckoides as a generalist, but the present study presents variations according to the availability of the environment, varying the number and volume of ingested prey. Smaller prey tend to be ingested in greater quantities during the dry season, while larger prey are ingested in smaller quantities during periods of rain. The microhabitat also varies according to the environment, indicating a preference for native vegetation, when present. The parasite-host relationship revealed low diversity of parasites, with a strong relationship between helminths and morphology and seasonality being recorded. Variations were found according to ingested prey, body size and seasonal variations, considering the levels of infection. Finally the factors of energy reserves, as well as modification of reproductive cells, indicate that this species presents continuous and acyclic reproduction, being highly correlated to the rainy season, in which a higher frequency of females carrying eggs in the oviduct and ovaries in the vitellogenic stage could be found. Therefore, energy reserves are used to a greater extent by this group due to pregnancy and ovarian maturation.