Lizards as indicator species for monitoring in a Caatinga protected area
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v15i2.2522Keywords:
Squamata , environmental monitoring , conservation , semi-aridAbstract
For nine years, lizard monitoring was carried out at ESEC Raso da Catarina, covering the phytophysiognomies of Arboreal Caatinga and Shrub-Arboreal Caatinga. We test and improve a monitoring protocol to be integrated into the Monitora Program toolbox. This study aimed to answer crucial questions to enable the monitoring of lizards in protected areas through this program, including identifying species composition and those that function as indicators for the proposed protocol. The main objectives aimed to answer: (1) if characteristic communities existed for each phytophysiognomy; (2) whether there were specific indicator species for these phytophysiognomies; and (3) if there was variation in the population dynamics of the indicator species over the years. For this purpose, we used pitfall traps to survey the species in the field. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess whether there were differences in richness and abundance of the studied phytophysiognomies. To assess the difference in composition between the phytophysiognomies, we used a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) using distance matrices. Indicator species analyses (IndVal) were also performed to assess the relationship of species with each phytophysiognomy and identify potential indicators. Finally, the distribution of indicator species abundance through the years was calculated. The results indicated a difference in abundance and composition between the phytophysiognomies and identified seven species as indicators. More significant declines in the abundances of the species Tropidurus cocorobensis, Ameivula gr. ocellifera and Anotosaura vanzolinia were also observed in the years 2017 and 2021. The lizards proved to be an effective group for monitoring as they have communities that are very characteristic of each phytophysiognomy studied and can respond to changes in these environments.
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