Altitudinal zonation among lizards of the genus Liolaemus: questions answered and unanswered questions

CAROTHERS, JOHN H.; Jaksic, Fabián M.; MARQUET, Pablo A.

Keywords: central chile, interspecific competition, altitudinal gradient, species distribution, thermal biology, microhabitat preference, gradiente altitudinal, Chile central, competencia interespecífica, parasite load, distribución de especies, biología térmica, carga parasitaria, preferencia de microhábitat

Abstract

We review factors influencing Liolaemus distributions in the central Chilean Andes and suggest areas of future research. Our previous studies reveal that lizard parasites (ectoparasitic mites and ticks, and the endoparasite Plasmodium) do not set Liolaemus altitudinal limits. Thermal tolerances do not appear to limit altitudinal distributions, although cold ambient temperatures dictate that only live-bearing species can occur above 2,400 m elevation. Three Liolaemus species specialize on elevationally restricted microhabitats. Liolaemus tenuis is found exclusively in or at the base of trees, which are typically below 1,800 m. Liolaemus leopardinus specializes on large rocky outcrops found at high altitudes. Liolaemus monticola uses smaller rocks: oviparity set its upper distributional limit on two transects, but on one transect this lizard and its rocky habitat virtually disappeared above 1,500 m. Interspecific competition among Liolaemus appeared unrelated to elevational distribution. We found no instances of parapatric distributions among pairs of Liolaemus species having similar niche requirements. Other researchers have found that predation does not correlate with elevation: its role in determining lizard species distributions depends on both predator and prey identities. We conclude that factors setting distributional limits of Liolaemus species vary depending on individual circumstances in time and space: where physiology may be relevant on one transect, preferred microhabitat availability may be important in another

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Título según SCIELO: Altitudinal zonation among lizards of the genus Liolaemus: questions answered and unanswered questions
Título de la Revista: Revista chilena de historia natural
Volumen: 74
Número: 2
Editorial: Sociedad de Biología de Chile
Fecha de publicación: 2001
Página de inicio: 313
Página final: 316
Idioma: en
URL: http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2001000200008&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en
DOI:

10.4067/S0716-078X2001000200008

Notas: SCIELO