Vulnerabilidade à extinção em lagartos do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

Several species of lizards are disappearing around the world. Their populations are declining on a global scale and for conservation actions to be carried out, it is necessary to identify the real risks of extinction and the threats that affect species. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of the “Stobutzki sustainability” method in assessing the degree of vulnerability to extinction of lizards with occurrence registered for Pernambuco, Brazil. We evaluated 42 species using the “Stobutzki sustainability” method based on scoring and ranking. The analysis was made from a graphical representation of the factors of "Threats" and "Vulnerabilities" of lizards. The great majority of the species (n = 32) did not show to be vulnerable. Only 10 lizards were not considered sustainable. The lizards Nothobachia ablephara, Cercosaura ocellata, and Procellosaurinus erythrocercus demonstrated a very high degree of vulnerability to extinction. Sixteen threats of anthropogenic origin were detected that threaten the populations of lizards in Pernambuco. Most species are not covered by any public policy of conservation geared specifically to species, however, most of the lizards have occurrence registered in Conservation Units. Half of the species of lizards (n = 21) have a low number of embryos per litter (<3), were considered partially generalist, having a diet composed mainly of a main category of prey and other secondary ones, which measure 40,000 m² and measure between 100 and 300 mm in total length. The classification of the Vulnerability Ranking is composed of six lizards that are in the list of endangered species in Pernambuco among the top 10. The analysis of principal components for the "Threats" axis was ordered by the fecundity of the species and their distribution and preference for certain habitats and for the "vulnerabilities" axis. Additionally, for the "Threats" axis, structuring was based on the situation of the habitats of these species and their distribution in protected areas. The Stobutzki "Sustainability" method is an important tool that can assist in the evaluation of vulnerability to extinction in lizard species, as well as the criteria used for research on other lizard assemblage.