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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2007
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| Online Access: | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44955233 |
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Table of Contents:
- Desplazamientos de la iguana verde, Iguana iguana (Squamata: Iguanidae) durante la estación seca en La Palma, Veracruz, México Héctor Gadsden-Esparza Richard C. Vogt Jorge E. Morales-Mávil Biología nesting home ranges Los Tuxtlas green iguana radiotracking Displacements of the green iguana (Iguana iguana) (Squamata: Iguanidae) during the dryseason in La Palma, Veracruz, Mexico. The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is said to be primarily sedentary,although the females travel long distances to nest. Displacement patterns must be known to help predict theeffects of environmental disturbance on iguanas survival. We studied nesting season (February-July) movementsin La Palma, Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico (18°33 N, 95°03 W). Individual movements and activitywere monitored by radio tracking. The transmitters were implanted surgically in eight adult iguanas (four malesand four females). Snout vent length (SVL) was used to determine the relationship between size of the bodyand size of home range. To estimate the size of home range, three or more points were used. Minimum convexpolygons estimates of home range were calculated with McPAAL. The iguanas were radio-located between 23and 30 occasions, mainly in trees (56 % between 3-9 m); only 4 % were localized under a height of 3 m (forestfloor). The occupation area mean was larger for males (9 158.06±3 025.3m2 vs. 6 591.24±4 001.1 m2) althoughthe differences were not significant (t= 0.51, p>0.05). SVL was correlated with home range (r= 0.76; gl= 7;p<0.05). Breeding males defended their home range vigorously against other adult males. We observed oneseparate male home range and large portions of overlap between the sexes. The home range generally formeda conglomerate of polygons and only two had linear shapes along the river: apparently iguanas use the riparianvegetation for foraging. The females display two strategies for nesting: 1) moving to the sandy area near the seaor, 2) laying eggs near the river, in loam. Iguanas responded to habitat fragmentation and reduction by modifyingtheir nesting strategy. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 709-715. Epub 2007 June, 29. 2007 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44955233 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.2 Vol.55