SOCIAL LIFE OR COMFORTABLE HOME? FACTORS INVOLVED IN REFUGE SELECTION IN CABO VERDEAN GECKOS

STUDENT SEMINAR IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

In order to determine the roles of ecological and social factors in refuge selection by the gecko Tarentola substituta two parallel experiments were conducted: one in the lab of University of Cabo Verde (Uni-CV), and another in a representative arid area of São Vicente island where only the species is present. The lab experiment used independent measures of solo and combinations of different age and sex classes of two individuals in a terrarium, allowing for the choice of four refuge options: high-/low-quality refuge close-/far from a heat source. In the field experiment, ten quadrates were surveyed, for geckos (considering age, sex and aggregation type) and high-quality refuge availability. Then the density of quadrates was manipulated to determine the effects on refuge choice by geckos. Preliminary results suggest that geckos select shelters trading-of the presence of conspecifics and thermal quality and safety. In the field, this translates into refuge selection (large stones) and non-reproductive social grouping (male-female) which may have conservation repercussions in case of habitat disturbance.

José Pereira holds a Bachelor degree in Biology from the University of Porto. He is presently on the second year of MSc in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution at CIBIO-InBIO, developing its final thesis concerning the topic of this talk within the Functional Biodiversity group (FBIO). José’s main interest is Animal Behavior.

[Host: Raquel Vasconcelos, Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Management]

Image credits: Raquel Vasconcelos