干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The aim of the present study was to assess the lizard community of the Environmental Protection Area (EPA) of Chapada do Araripe in terms of diversity, spatial distribution, niche breadth and niche overlapping. Three different vegetation types were sampled (Caatinga, cerradao and secondary forest) for a year, with one campaign per month. The collections were conducted by means of an active search, which was limited by time, and pitfall traps. Twenty species belonging to 12 families were recorded. The richness and abundance values were different between the three sample areas. The caatinga area contained the highest number of species (s=14), whereas the cerradao area exhibited the highest abundance levels (n=99). The most common lizards were Ameiva ameiva, Colobosaura modesta and Norops brasiliensis in the caatinga, cerradao and secondary forest, respectively. The lizards were more abundant in the dry season compared to the rainy season. Upon comparison of the diversity of the present study with previous studies of other biomes (Amazon rainforest, Atlantic forest, Cerrado and Caatinga), it is notable that the diversity index of the Araripe EPA was high, suggesting that a greater sampling effort in different vegetation areas is the main factor in relation to high richness and diversity in semi-arid areas. Analysis based on null models indicated no significant values of microhabitat overlapping, confirming that the competition for space does not regulate the structure of the studied communities. This may be determined by other factors, including historical factors or the selection of a microhabitat based on diet.