Survey of Reptiles and Ecological Study of Two Sympatric Lizards Mabuya Striata and Lygodactylus Keniensis from Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2008-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Studies on species composition, diversity, evenness and relative abundance of
reptiles in Nechisar National Park were carried out from October 2007 to April
2008. Reptiles were surveyed by using active search, pitfall trapping and cover sheet
methods. A total 34 species belonging to 3 orders (Order Squamata, Order
Testudines and Order Crocodylia) were recorded. The Order Squamata was the most
diverse containing 30 species belonging to 2 Suborders, Sauria which comprises 19
species belonging to 7 Families and 10 Genera and Serpentes comprising 12 species
belonging to 4 Families and 13 Genera. The Order Testudines comprised 3 species
belonging to 2 Families. The Order Crocodylia comprised only one species. The
diversity of reptiles varied among the different habitat types. Bushland habitat had
the highest number of reptilian species (29.69% of the collected species). From the
total species recorded, 11 (29%) were new records from the area. Detailed
observations were made on the lizards Lygodactylus keniensis and Mabuya striata.
These lizards were found to have a very high overlap in their temporal niche
dimension, which is compensated by low overlaps in their spatial and food niche
dimensions.
Key words: - Competition, niche breadth, niche dimensions, reptiles, resource
partitioning, species composition, sympatry
Description
Keywords
Competition, niche breadth, niche dimensions, reptiles, resource partitioning, species composition, sympatry