Lizard community structure and long-term changes in relation to plant communities on the Welder Wildlife Refuge /

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Mora, Jose Manuel, 1956-
Other Authors:	Silvy, Nova J. (degree committee member.), Slack, Douglas R. (degree committee member.), Sweet, Merrill H. (degree committee member.)
Format:	Thesis Book
Language:	English
Published:	1991.
Subjects:	Lizards > Habitat > Texas > Welder Wildlife Refuge. Species diversity. Plant communities > Texas > Welder Wildlife Refuge. Major wildlife and fisheries sciences. Academic theses
Online Access:	ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy

Description
Abstract:	I determined the lizard species diversity on the Welder Wildlife Refuge (WWR) by trapping and marking individuals using a total of 200 traps in 2 arrays of 4 pitfall traps interconnected by drift fences plus a grid of 25 pitfall traps in each of 6 ecological associations. Trapped lizards were marked and released. I established a 1.6 km-line transect on each ecological association to record data on lizard species observed, time, type of activity, perch, and substrate. I found a total of 9 species on the WWR but only 5 were common. Eight lizard species were found within the 6 ecological associations on the WWR 30 years ago. The plant communities of WWR have changed drastically since 1960 because of increased rainfall and range management practices. The trend of the overall change seems to be a taller and denser vegetation. These vegetation changes have affected 3 lizard species (Phrynosoma cornutum, Sceloporus variabilis and S. undulatus} because they require xeric habitat. Phrynosoma cornutum was not found on the WWR in this study, and S. variabilis and S. undulatus were rare. Cnemidophorus qularis and S. undulatus were the only 2 species present in all 6 associations 30 years ago, the latter being the most abundant. Sceloporus olivaceus, the third most abundant species 30 years ago, is the most abundant and widely distributed species currently on the WWR. Anolis carolinensis (a new species on the WWR) and S. olivaceus are arboreal but they utilize different perches. Cnemidophorus qularis and C. sexlineatus, are terrestrial but exhibited different spatial and temporal habitat use patterns. Hemidactvlus turcicus (new on the WWR), Ophisaurus attenuates, and Scincella lateralis were found in low numbers. There was no evidence to suggest that the lizard species diversity of the WWR is positively correlated to any particular characteristic of the ecological associations.
Item Description:	Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences."
Physical Description:	xiv, 101 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm
Bibliography:	Includes bibliographical references.