engleski

Trophic niche comparison of three lacretid lizards on the island of Cres (Croatia)

Aspects of trophic niche in a lizard community of three syntopic species, the Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis murali), the Dalmatian Wall Lizard (P. melisellensis) and the Dalmatian Algyroides (Algyroides nigropunctatus)were studied in a submediterranean habitat on Cres Island (the Northern Adriatic, Croatia). We collected a total of 71 faecal pellets from May to October 1997. Prey availability was estimated by two types of traps for invertebrates, during the same period. All three species preyed on a wide variety of invertebrates, but mainly on insects. The most important prey groups for P. muralis and P. melisellensis were Coleoptera, Araneae, Opiliones and Diptera. A. nigropunctatus feeds predominantly on Araneae. Predominant prey in traps were Diptera, Formicidae and Coleoptera. Electivity scores for individual prey taxa were very highly (positively) correlated with relative availability of Opiliones and Araneae, positively correlated with Coleoptera and negatively correlated with Diptera for all three studied species. Food niche overlap was highest between P. muralis and P. melisellensis (Ojk=0.93).

rophic niche; lizard community; Podarcis melisellensis; Podarcis muralis; Algyroides nigropunctatus; island of Cres; Croatia

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