Diverging structures, perch heights, temperatures, and levels of sunlight of spatial niche dimensions ease the syntopic life of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT To investigate divergences of ecological spatial niche dimensions, we evaluated if lizards Tropidurus hispidus and T. semitaeniatus used or selected structural (types of microhabitat and perch heights) and thermal resources (microhabitat temperatures and levels of sunlight) in ways that could ease living in syntopy. Most T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus used rocks, resulting in a high overlap of structural niche dimensions. The former used such microhabitats according to the environmental availability and the latter selected rocks. Tropidurus hispidus selected shadier and colder microhabitats than T. semitaeniatus that selected warmer sites with full sunlight. Tropidurus semitaeniatus occupied regions further from vegetation shelters than from rock shelters. Larger T. semitaeniatus moved farther away from shelters than smaller individuals. Tropidurus hispidus perched higher than T. semitaeniatus. Distinctions regarding the use of spatial resources effectively reduced the overlaps of ecological niche dimensions, segregating the species and easing the life in syntopy.