Resource use by lizard communities in semi-deciduous forests and its relationship with vegetation variables under different harvesting times

Abstract

Reptiles occupy a great variety of habitats and types of ecomorphs, and are among the taxonomic groups most sensitive to disturbances, such as habitat fragmentation and loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of changes in the semi-deciduous forest, in the dynamics of recovery after forest harvesting interventions, on the use of certain resources in lizard communities and their relationship with vegetation variables. An observation guide was used in the semi-deciduous forest in two treatments with different post-logging recovery times in two sectors of the Guanahacabibes National Park, Cabo San Antonio and Cabo Corrientes, to determine the lizard species, the illumination to which they are exposed, the type of substrate and the height frequented by each individual. Thirty-six species were identified; the use of resources by the detected species varied significantly with post-harvest recovery time for height and illumination. The vegetation variables that showed the greatest association with the different species of lizards were: species richness, density of the lower tree stratum and height of the three established strata.the associations established between changes in forest structure and lizard communities are significantly manifested by the strata of height and illumination in both locations and the vegetation variables that have a greater correspondence are richness of the shrub stratum, height of the upper tree stratum and natural regeneration.

Keywords

• aprovechamiento forestal
• bosque semideciduo
• ecomorfos y recurso.