A Comparison of the Normal Habitats of Skinks of 3 Electrophoretically Distinguishable Forms of Lampropholis-Declicata (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in South-Eastern-Queensland

Abstract

The microhabitat preferences of three genetically distinct but morphologically conservative population groups of the skink Lampropholis delicata were assessed using multivariate comparisons of 17 habitat variables to determine if ecological, in addition to genetic, differences were observable between them. DFA and PCA analyses revealed that two forms (B and C) had narrow, distinct, non-overlapping microhabitat requirements while those of the third form (A) were broad and showed limited (7%) overlap with those of forms B and C. The two microhabitat-restricted forms were limited to small patches of wet sclerophyll or vine forest while populations of form A utilised a wide variety of different habitat types and were found in narrow zones of sympatry with populations of forms B and C. Populations of form A with very broad microhabitat requirements, were also found to successfully utilise wet sclerophyll habitats of similar structure where populations of the microhabitat-specialist forms were absent.