The micro-niche explains allotopy and syntopy in South American Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) lizards

Abstract

Species distribution models have been established as essential tools for projecting theeffects of changing environmental conditions on species distribution across spaceand time. The microclimatic niche denotes the environmental conditions within ahabitat at a small scale or localized area. These conditions have a direct influence onseveral ecological traits and on species distribution as these conditions determinewhich organisms can survive and/or reproduce. This study examines themicroclimate data from four sites located in Northwestern Salta Province, Argentina.Four South American Liolaemus lizard species were found to inhabit these four sitesin allotopy or syntopy, with Liolaemus irregularis inhabiting all four sites. Liolaemusirregularis is the sole Liolaemus species inhabiting Site 1; L. irregularis inhabits Site 2in syntopy with L. multicolor; L. irregularis inhabits Site 3 in syntopy with L. yanalcu;and L. irregularis inhabits Site 4 in syntopy with L. albiceps. To characterize the foursites, a microclimate model was generated for an interval from 10 AM to 6 PM everyday, for 10 years. The sites exhibited some differences in the combination of climaticand soil characteristics. Site 1 was characterized by low relative humidity, hightemperature, high wind speed, and Cambisol soil type. Site 2 had high relativehumidity, low temperature, moderate wind speed, and Andosol soil type. Site 3 hadhigh relative humidity, high temperature, low wind speed, and Cambisol soil type.Site 4 had high relative humidity, low temperature, moderate wind speed, andRegosol soil type. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, soil type, and species dietinfluenced the presence of lizard species at each site. It is evident thatmicroenvironmental conditions profoundly influence lizard distribution andbiological interactions.