Start Date
4-2020 12:00 AM
Description
A species’ ecological niche represents the environmental conditions needed for an individual to replace itself and is comprised of multiple resource axes (Pianka 2000 Evol. Ecol.).
One mechanism of establishment of non-native species is via exploitation of novel resources in recipient ecosystems through their unique functional traits (Schalk et al. 2018 Biol. Invas.).
Mediterranean House Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) are an exotic species introduced in urban areas across Texas, yet little is known about their resource use relative to native lizards.
We hypothesized that H. turcicus would exhibit low overlap in resource use in their habitat, dietary, and isotopic niches compared to native lizard species (Green Anole [Anolis carolinensis], Little Brown Skink [Scincella lateralis], Five-lined Skink [Plestiodon fasciatus]).
Mediterranean House Geckos Exploit Novel Resources in a Recipient Lizard Assemblage
A species’ ecological niche represents the environmental conditions needed for an individual to replace itself and is comprised of multiple resource axes (Pianka 2000 Evol. Ecol.).
One mechanism of establishment of non-native species is via exploitation of novel resources in recipient ecosystems through their unique functional traits (Schalk et al. 2018 Biol. Invas.).
Mediterranean House Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) are an exotic species introduced in urban areas across Texas, yet little is known about their resource use relative to native lizards.
We hypothesized that H. turcicus would exhibit low overlap in resource use in their habitat, dietary, and isotopic niches compared to native lizard species (Green Anole [Anolis carolinensis], Little Brown Skink [Scincella lateralis], Five-lined Skink [Plestiodon fasciatus]).
Comments
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Schalk (Forestry)