Trophic ecology of the mountain lizard, Liolaemus monticola (Müller & Hellmich, 1932), an endemic species of the central Andes of Chile
Manuel Jara A and Andrés Muñoz-Pedreros
B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK.
B Núcleo de Estudio en Ciencias Ambientales NEA, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Casilla 15-D Temuco, 4780000, Chile.
C Corresponding author. Email: amunoz@uct.cl
Australian Journal of Zoology 65(6) 372-378 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO17033
Submitted: 8 June 2017 Accepted: 30 May 2018 Published: 9 July 2018
Abstract
Knowledge of trophic ecology is fundamental for understanding feeding strategies and niche dynamics, which can provide information on the vulnerability and conservation status of some poorly known species, such as Liolaemus monticola, a rock-dwelling lizard endemic to the central Andes of Chile. We studied its trophic ecology, analysing its diet and the availability of prey during three activity seasons (summer, autumn and spring). The results show that L. monticola is insectivorous, preying on epigean arthropods. The most frequent prey is formicid ants, on which it feeds in a greater proportion than that at which they occur in the environment. The annual diet is less variable than the seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of prey in the environment. We conclude that L. monticola is a trophic specialist with a preference for the ants Camponotus morosus, Araucomyrmex hypocritus and Brachymyrmex giardii. This diet presupposes an equilibrium between the relative toxicity of the ants, the energy cost of dealing with the prey and detoxification.
Additional keywords: seasonal variation in diet, South America.
References
Bennett, D. (2000). Preliminary data on the diet of juvenile Varanus exanthematicus (Sauria, Varanidae) in the coastal plain of Ghana. The Herpetological Journal 10, 75–76.Bray, J., and Curtis, J. (1957). An ordination of the upland forest communities of southern Wisconsin. Ecological Monographs 27, 325–349.
| An ordination of the upland forest communities of southern Wisconsin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cepeda-Pizarro, J., Pizarro-Araya, J., and Vázquez, H. (2005). Variación en la abundancia de Artropoda en un transecto latitudinal del desierto costero transicional de Chile, con énfasis en los tenebriónidos epígeos. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 78, 651–663.
| Variación en la abundancia de Artropoda en un transecto latitudinal del desierto costero transicional de Chile, con énfasis en los tenebriónidos epígeos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Christie, M. (1984). Determinación de las prioridades de conservacionistas para la fauna de vertebrados patagónicos. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires. Zoologia 13, 535–539.
Colwell, R., and Futuyma, D. (1971). On the measurement of niche breadth and overlap. Ecology 52, 567–576.
| On the measurement of niche breadth and overlap.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Donoso-Barros, R. (1966). ‘Reptiles de Chile.’ (Ediciones Universidad de Chile: Santiago.)
Duffield, G, and Bull, C (1998). Seasonal and ontogenetic changes in the diet of the Australian skink Egernia stokesii. Herpetologica 54, 414–419.
Fuentes, E. (1976). Ecological convergence of lizard communities in Chile and California. Ecology 57, 3–17.
| Ecological convergence of lizard communities in Chile and California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fuentes, E. (1984). Evolution of lizard niches in Mediterranean habitats. In ‘Mediterranean-type Shrublands.’ Ecosystems of the World, Vol. 11. (Eds F. D. Di Castri, W. Goodall, and R. L. Specht.) pp. 417–444. (Elsevier: Amsterdam, Oxford, New York.)
Fuentes, E., and Cancino, J. (1979). Rock-ground patchiness in a simple Liolaemus lizard community. Journal of Herpetology 13, 343–350.
| Rock-ground patchiness in a simple Liolaemus lizard community.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fuentes, E., and Di Castri, F. (1975). Ensayo de herbivoría experimental en especies de Liolaemus (Iguanidae) chilenos. Anales del Museo de Historia Natural de Valparaíso (Chile) 8, 66–75.
Fuentes, E., and Ipinza, J. (1979). A note on the diet of Liolaemus monticola (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Iguanidae). Journal of Herpetology 13, 123–124.
| A note on the diet of Liolaemus monticola (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Iguanidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
González, L., Prieto, A., Martínez, L., and Velásquez, J. (2006). Nichos tróficos de los lagartos Ameiva ameiva y Plica plica en un bosque húmedo tropical del estado Miranda, Venezuela. SABER. Revista Multidisciplinaria del Consejo de Investigación de la Universidad de Oriente 18, 117–122.
Huey, R. B., and Pianka, E. R. (1981). Ecological consequences of foraging mode. Ecology 62, 991–999.
| Ecological consequences of foraging mode.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hutcheson, K. (1970). A test for comparing diversities based on the Shannon formula. Journal of Theoretical Biology 29, 151–154.
| A test for comparing diversities based on the Shannon formula.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ipinza, J. H. (1985). Formícidos en el contenido gástrico de Liolaemus montícola (Reptilia). Revista Chilena de Entomologia 12, 165–168.
Jaksic, F. (1978). ¿A qué tamaño se hace herbívora una lagartija? Anales del Museo de Historia Natural de Valparaíso (Chile) 11, 113–116.
Jaksic, F. (2001). ‘Ecología de Comunidades.’ 2nd edn. (Ediciones Universidad Católica de Chile: Santiago.)
Jaksic, F., Fuentes, E., and Yáñez, J. (1977). Two types of adaptations of carnivorous vertebrates to their prey. Archivos de Biología y Medicina Experimentales (Chile) 12, 143–152.
Köeppen, W. (1948). ‘Climatología.’ 1st edn in Spanish. (Editorial Fondo de Cultura Económica: México.)
Lawlor, L. (1980). Overlap, similarity and competition coefficients. Ecology 61, 245–251.
| Overlap, similarity and competition coefficients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Legler, J., and Sullivan, L. (1979). The application of stomach-flushing to lizards and anurans. Herpetologica 35, 107–110.
Levins, R. (1968). ‘Evolution in Changing Environment: Some Theoretical Explorations.’ Monographs in Population Biology, No. 2. (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)
Luebert, F., and Pliscoff, P. (2006). ‘Sinopsis Bioclimática y Vegetacional de Chile.’ (Editorial Universitaria: Santiago.)
Magurran, A. (1988). ‘Ecological Diversity and its Measurements.’ (Chapman & Hall: London.)
Martori, R., Juárez, R., and Aun, L. (2002). La taxocenosis de lagartos de Achiras, Córdoba, Argentina, parámetros biológicos y estado de conservación. Revista Española de Herpetología 16, 73–91.
McAleece, N. (1998). ‘Biodiversity, Professional Beta 1.’ (The Natural History Museum and the Association for Marine Science: London.)
Mella, J. (2005). ‘Reptiles de Chile. Zona Central.’ (Centro de Ecología Aplicada Ediciones, Universidad de Chile.)
Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MMA) (2017). Decretos Supremos que aprueban y oficializan clasificación de especies según su estado de conservación, décimo tercer proceso (N° 8/2017). Diario oficial de la República de Chile.
Molina, R., and Manrique, F. (1997). Contenidos estomacales de dos peces planctívoros del Golfo de California durante el verano de 1991. Ciencias Marinas 23, 163–174.
| Contenidos estomacales de dos peces planctívoros del Golfo de California durante el verano de 1991.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Núñez, H., Marquet, P., Medel, R., and Jaksic, F. (1989). Niche relationships between two sympatric Liolaemus lizards in a fluctuating environment: the “lean” versus “feast” scenario. Journal of Herpetology 23, 22–28.
| Niche relationships between two sympatric Liolaemus lizards in a fluctuating environment: the “lean” versus “feast” scenario.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ortiz, J. (1974). Reptiles del Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales. I. Hábitos alimenticios de Liolaemus pictus pictus, Dúmeril et Bibron (Squamata – Iguanidae). Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Valparaíso (Chile) 7, 317–326.
Ortiz, J., and Riveros, G. (1976). Hábitos alimenticios de Liolaemus nigromaculatus kuhlmani, Muller & Hellmich. Anales del Museo de Historia Natural de Valparaíso (Chile) 9, 131–140.
Péfaur, J., and Díaz, A. (2000). Consideraciones sobre comunidades de animales epígeos en zonas semiáridas en Sudamérica. Memorias del IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Ecología. In ‘Memorias del IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Ecología. Ecología y Desarrollo Sostenible, Reto de la América Latina para el Tercer Milenio’. (Eds P. Jiménez-Milón, C. Talavera-Delgado, L. Villegas-Paredes, A. Ortega-Paredes, and F. Villasante-Benavides.) pp. 76–82. (Industria Gráfica Regentus: Arequipa, Perú.)
Peters, I., and Donoso-Barros, R. (1970). Catalogue of Neotropical Squamata. Part II. Lizards and amphibians. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 297, 170–195.
Pianka, E. (1986). ‘Ecology and Natural History of Desert Lizards.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)
Pincheira-Donoso, D. (2008). Testing the accuracy of fecal-based analyses in studies of trophic ecology in lizards. Copeia 2008, 322–325.
| Testing the accuracy of fecal-based analyses in studies of trophic ecology in lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pincheira-Donoso, D., and Núñez, H. (2005). Las especies chilenas del género Liolemus Wiegmann, 1834 (Iguania, Tropiduridae, Liolaeminae). Taxonomía, sistemática y evolución. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Chile, Publicación Ocasional 59, 1–489.
Pough, F., Andrews, R., Cadle, J., Crump, M., Savitzky, A., and Wells, K. (2001). ‘Herpetology.’ (Prentice Hall: New Jersey.)
Rocha, C., and Anjos, L. (2007). Feeding ecology of a nocturnal invasive alien lizard species, Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818 (Gekkonidae), living in an outcrop rocky area in southeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology 67, 485–491.
| Feeding ecology of a nocturnal invasive alien lizard species, Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818 (Gekkonidae), living in an outcrop rocky area in southeastern Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schoener, T. (1971). Theory of feeding strategies. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 2, 369–404.
| Theory of feeding strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Solé, M., Beckmann, O., Pelz, B., Kwet, A., and Engels, W. (2005). Stomach-flushing for diet analysis in anurans, an improved protocol evaluated in a case study in Araucaria forests, southern Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 40, 23–28.
| Stomach-flushing for diet analysis in anurans, an improved protocol evaluated in a case study in Araucaria forests, southern Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Villavicencio, H., Acosta, J., and Cánovas, M. (2005). Dieta de Liolaemus ruibali Donoso Barros (Iguania, Liolaeminae) en la reserva de usos múltiples Don Carmelo, San Juan, Argentina. Multequina (Mendoza) 14, 47–52.
Vrcibradic, D., and Rocha, C. (1995). Variação sazonal na dieta de Mabuya macrorhyncha (Sauria, Scincidae) na restinga da Barra de Maricá, RJ. Oecologia Brasiliensis 1, 143–153.
| Variação sazonal na dieta de Mabuya macrorhyncha (Sauria, Scincidae) na restinga da Barra de Maricá, RJ.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Withers, P., and Dickman, C. (1995). The role of diet in determining water, energy and salt intake in the thorny devil Moloch horridus (Lacertilia, Agamidae). Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 78, 3–11.
Zar, J. (1996). ‘Biostatistical Analysis.’ 3rd edn. (Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.)
