Diversidade, composição e aspectos ecológicos de taxocenose de lagartos (Squamata) em área impactada de parque urbano, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

The Domain of the Atlantic Forest estimated there were only between 11.4% and 16% of its original vegetation remaining and is threatened by disordered use and occupation, mostly from urbanization, which is one of the main causes of extinction of species. Among the remaining species in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, stands out the Parque Estadual das Dunas de Natal (PEDN), Conservation Unit for integral protection and location of the lizard Coleodactylus natalensis, an endangered species from the Brazilian fauna. Despite these facts, scenic beauty, and climate mitigation by the PEDN, this species has been endangered by use and settlement on the already degraded land that borders the Avenida. This paper aimed to support the assessment of the environmental importance of this degraded area by studying the taxocenosis of lizards in order to register and identify species as well as how they distribute themselves and remain in different vegetation types. Three parallel and equally spaced (about 500m) sampling quadrants were delimited in different vegetation types. The active search in the quadrants was random along three parallel transects. Twelve species of lizard were registered and the rarefaction curve proved sintotica, indicating that more species could be registered. The most recorded species were Ameivula ocellifera, Brasiliscincus heathi and Gymnodactylus geckoides. The ones with the largest and smallest niche width considering their habitat were Salvator merianae and C. natalensis, respectively. Regarding microhabitat, Tropidurus hispidus was the most generalist and B. heathi the most specialist. The pair of species with greater overlap in habitat use was S. merianae and Ameiva ameiva. For microhabitats, A. ocellifera e B. heathi. The temporal variation of richness against high temperatures and rainfall rates indicates that the presence of the species is more dependent on abiotic factors. High levels of overlaps for some pairs of species did not limit the competition between them as they segregate in the remaining axes of the niches. The most common species are from open areas. However, two from forested areas, Dryadosaura nordestina and C. natalensis, which is endangered, reinforce the importance of conservation of the degraded area to maintain the biodiversity in the park.