Aspectos ecológicos dos lagartos (Squamata) em uma área de caatinga do Sertão Paraibano.

Abstract

Lizards are considered model organisms for ecological research, these individuals can indicate the functioning of the ecosystem in which they are inserted and how they are organized within their communities.The aim of this paper was to characterize an area of caatinga, identify the environmental variables that influence the existence of lizards in theplace and the components of the diet of the collected species, Ameivullaocellifera.The studied area was the Serra de João Ferreira, in the municipality of Vista Serrana, west of Paraíba. The data collection occurred during the months of June to October/2014, with five field days in each month.The lizards were captured by the method of active search andwith pitfall traps with drift fencewhich were installed in the three chosen areas; for each pitfall were delimited ten installments of 16m2 eachone for a qualitative assessment of the surrounding environment and vegetation.To identify the Ameivullaocellifera diet, the stomachs were removed and their contents identified. Three areas were sampled with different physiognomies and 20 environmental variables were recorded. Throughout the study period itwasfound in all three areas (A1, A2 and A3) eleven species of lizards belonging to nine genera and six families.The Lygodactylusklugei species and Phyollopesusperiosus were only observed during the limited active search by time and Iguana iguana and Salvatormerianae in occasional meetings.The others (Ameivula ,Ameivaameiva, Gymnodactylusgeckoides, Phyllopezuspollicaris, Vanzosauramultiscutatus, semitaeniatus and Tropidurushispidus) were captured through pitfalls.The dietof Ameivullaocellifera was composed mainly of insects and other invertebrates, three invertebrates were found in the stomachs of three adult males. As for the local flora, it was possible to register a total of ten species belonging to nine genera and five families.Air temperature and soil, humidity and soil, litter, grasses, rocks among others were environmental variables with significant values for the relevant species of lizards.