Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha

Erosion of lizard diversity by climate change and altered thermal niches

Demise of the Lizards Despite pessimistic forecasts from recent studies examining the effects of global climate change on species, and observed extinctions in local geographic areas, there is little evidence so far of global-scale extinctions. Sinervo et al. (p. 894; see the Perspective by Huey et al.) find that extinctions resulting from climate change are currently reducing global lizard diversity. Climate records during the past century were synthesized with detailed surveys of Mexican species at 200 sites over the past 30 years. Temperature change has been so rapid in this region that rates of adaptation have not kept pace with climate change. The models were then extended to all families of lizards at >1000 sites across the globe, and suggest that climate change-induced extinctions are currently affecting worldwide lizard assemblages. A historical record of lizard populations in Mexico is used to parameterize models that predict global effects of climate change. It is predicted that climate change will cause species extinctions and distributional shifts in coming decades, but data to validate these predictions are relatively scarce. Here, we compare recent and historical surveys for 48 Mexican lizard species at 200 sites. Since 1975, 12% of local populations have gone extinct. We verified physiological models of extinction risk with observed local extinctions and extended projections worldwide. Since 1975, we estimate that 4% of local populations have gone extinct worldwide, but by 2080 local extinctions are projected to reach 39% worldwide, and species extinctions may reach 20%. Global extinction projections were validated with local extinctions observed from 1975 to 2009 for regional biotas on four other continents, suggesting that lizards have already crossed a threshold for extinctions caused by climate change.

Phylogenetic Affinities of Mabuya atlantica Schmidt, 1945, Endemic to the Atlantic Ocean Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (Brazil): Necessity of Partitioning the Genus Mabuya Fitzinger, 1826 (Scincidae: Lygosominae)

Abstract The infrageneric phylogenetic position of the Brazilian skink Mabuya atlantica was inferred from 859 bp of the mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA genes. It could be shown that M. atlantica belongs to the Afro-Malagasy rather than to the South American Mabuya radiation. Mabuya atlantica probably represents an independent transmarine colonization directly from the coast of Southwest Africa, thus representing another example of the extraordinary dispersal abilities of members of this group. Moreover, the present analysis revealed that intercontinental relationships within the genus Mabuya are far more complex than previously thought. The molecular analysis suggests that Mabuya consists of several long-separated evolutionary lineages, representing distinct and well-supported monophyletic radiations. To reflect the independent origins of the South American, Asian, Afro-Malagasy and Cape Verdian groups we partition the genus Mabuya into four genera.

Thermal biology and flight distance of Tropidurus oreadicus (Sauria Iguanidae) in an area of Amazonian Brazil

The thermal biology and flight distance of the tropical lizard Tropidurus oreadicus was studied on iron ore outcrops (called canga) at Serra dos Carajas, in Brazilian Amazonia. Body temperature varied markedly throughout the day (range 32.0 to 38.1 °C), but mean preferred body temperature was 35.8 °C. The air temperature in the microhabitat explained a considerable part of Tropidurus oreadicus body temperature variation, but other factors such as direct insolation and substratum teperature may also be of importance. In the morning, lizards usually climbed onto rocks and assumed progressively changing body orientations and inclinations which increased the interception of sunlight. Later they retreated to vegetation. This suggested that the importance of rocks as basking sites changes during the morning due to the angle of the sun. The flight distance was greater when body temperature was low and this may be of survival value in open areas such as the mineral outcrops of Serra dos Carajas.

Environmental Factors Affecting Calling Activity of a Tropical Diurnal Frog (Hylodes phyllodes: Leptodactylidae)

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Activity patterns and body temperatures of two sympatric lizards (Tropidurus torquatus and Cnemidophorus ocellifer) with different foraging tactics in southeastern Brazil

Nos estudamos a biologia termal e comparamos os padroes termais e de atividade de dois lagartos simpatricos com diferentes taticas de forrageamento (Tropidurus torquatus e Cnemidophorus ocellifer) num habitat de restinga na Reserva Florestal Vale do Rio Doce, Linhares, Brasil. Os dados mostraram que as temperaturas corporais de ambas as especies relacionaram-se positiva e significativamente com a temperatura do substrato. A especie forrageadora ativa, C. ocellifer, teve temperaturas medias corporais significativamente maiores (37.6 ± 2.0°C) do que o senta-e-espera T. torquatus (35.6 ± 1.9°C), e permaneceu ativo no habitat numa porcao menor de tempo (entre 8:30 e 15:00 h) do que T. torquatus (entre 7:00 e 18:00 h). Nossos resultados estao de acordo com a premissa de que especies forrageadoras ativas teriam maiores temperaturas medias corporais e permaneceriam ativas no habitat por periodo de tempo relativamente mais curto do que especies forrageadoras sedentarias.

Thermal ecology and activity patterns of the lizard community of the Restinga of Jurubatiba, Macaé, RJ

We analyzed the thermal ecology and activity patterns of the lizard community from the Restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The broadest activity was that of Tropidurus torquatus, a sit-and-wait forager, while the active foraging teiid Cnemidophorus littoralis had the shortest activity. The nocturnal gekkonid Hemidactylus mabouia was found active during the day only during early morning and late afternoon, when environmental temperatures are low. Body temperature was highest for Cnemidophorus littoralis and lowest for the two Mabuya species. The patterns found here are discussed and compared to those of congeneric species in other habitats in Brazil.

Nematode infection patterns in four sympatric lizards from a restinga habitat (Jurubatiba) in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil

Specimens of the four most abundant diurnal lizards ( Tropidurus torquatus, Cnemidophorus littoralis, Mabuya macrorhyncha and M. agilis ) inhabiting the restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil were examined for nematodes. Eight species of nematodes were found. Tropidurus torquatus had the richest (8 species) and most diverse nematode fauna, whereas that of C. littoralis was the poorest (2 species) and less diverse. Tropidurus torquatus also had the highest overall prevalence (92%) and mean infection intensity (37.2; standard deviation 82.0; range 2-549). Similarities in nematode faunal composition between host species was generally low, except between the two Mabuya species.

Bigger ant colonies reduce herbivory and herbivore residence time on leaves of an ant-plant: Azteca muelleri vs. Coelomera ruficornis on Cecropia pachystachya

SummaryThe effect of defence force size in colonies of the ant Azteca muelleri on the time spent to localize, attack and expel the specialized herbivorous beetle Coelomera ruficornis from Cecropia pachystachya bushes was studied in an area of Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil. Our results show that Azteca muelleri expel Coelomera ruficornis from Cecropia pachystachya and that the number of ants leaving a colony (defence force size) is negatively correlated with the residence time of an adult beetle on the plant. Colonies with larger defence forces recruited larger numbers of ants, resulting in faster herbivore discovery (r2=0.80; n=17; P<0.001) and reduced herbivore residence time on a leaf (r2=0.79 n=23; P<0.001) before being driven off by the ants. We also found a negative and significant relationship between herbivore damage on leaves and ant colony size (r2=0.28; n=17; P<0.05). We conclude that larger colonies have more individuals available to patrol a plant and recruit defenders toward herbivores. This reduces the time spent to locate and expel susceptible herbivores from the plant. Since the plant probably benefits from reduced herbivory and the plant provides food for the ants, the association between Azteca muelleri and Cecropia pachystachya appears mutualistic.

Helminths infecting Mabuya dorsivittata (Lacertilia, Scincidae) from a high-altitude habitat in Itatiaia National Park, Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil

We analysed the helminth fauna associated with the lizard Mabuya dorsivittata (Scincidae) from a high-altitude area in Itatiaia National Park, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Of the 16 lizards examined, 12 (75%) were infected by at least one helminth. Only two helminth species were found: Physaloptera retusa and Skrjabinodon spinosulus (Nematoda), the former with a prevalence of 68.8% and a mean infection intensity of 3.6 +/- 2.8 and the latter with a prevalence of 56.3% and a mean infection intensity of 2.6 +/- 2.6. The helminth fauna of the studied population of Mabuya dorsivittata was considerably poorer than those of other previously studied populations of congeners.

New Cnemidophorus (Squamata; Teiidae) from Coastal Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract A new lizard species of the genus Cnemidophorus (Teiidae) is described from Barra de Maricá, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. The species is characterized by having a narrow pale vertebral stripe, with two irregular narrow stripes [one dorsolateral (sometimes broken) and one lateral] on each side of it, and a sequence of small pale dashes on each side of the dorsal field. Its tail is bright blue-green, in contrast to the brownish tail of C. ocellifer. The new species has higher counts of femoral pores on each side (12–20) than the closely related species C. ocellifer (7–12) and C. nativo (11–13) and differs further from those species in other morphometric and meristic characters, such as the number of subdigital lamellae on fingers and toes and transversal and longitudinal counts of ventral scale rows. Uma nova espécie de lagarto do gênero Cnemidophorus (Teiidae) é descrita de Barra de Maricá, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil. A espécie é caracterizada por uma listra vertebral clara e estreita e duas listras irregulares (uma dorsolateral [que pode ser interrompida] e uma lateral) de cada lado da mesma, com uma sequência de pequenos pontos claros de cada lado do campo dorsal. Sua cauda é verde-azulada, contrastando com a cauda marrom de C. ocellifer. A nova espécie possui mais poros femorais de cada lado (12–20) do que as espécies próximas C. ocellifer (7–12) e C. nativo (11–13), e difere destas também em outros caracteres merísticos, como o número de lamelas subdigitais dos dedos e artelhos e as contagens transversais e longitudinais de escamas ventrais.