Home ranges of parthenogenetic and bisexual species in a community of Darevskia lizards (Reptilia: Lacertidae) |
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| Authors: | Neftalí Sillero Claudia Corti Miguel A Carretero |
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| Institution: | 1. Observatório Astronómico Prof. Manuel de Barros, Centro de Investiga??o em Ciências Geo-Espaciais (CICGE), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto (FCUP), Portugalneftali.sillero@gmail.com;3. Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola”, Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italia;4. Campus Agrário de Vair?o, CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Vair?o, Vila do Conde, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | We analysed the home ranges of a community of Darevskia rock lizards composed of a bisexual species (D. valentini), two parthenogens (D. armeniaca and D. unisexualis), and two backcross forms between bisexual and unisexual forms. We estimated home range areas of ink-marked, GPS-located lizards using Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and 95% of the locations for those individuals with five or more sightings. The bisexual D. valentini was the species with the largest home ranges, distances travelled, and the most intersections. No differences between unisexual species and backcrosses were recorded for any comparison. In males, home range size and perimeter were related to morphological characteristics. Contrary to what has been described in allopatry, unisexual species showed smaller home ranges and fewer overlaps than sympatric bisexual species. We tentatively suggest that the presence of potential bisexual partners might increase sexual competition among parthenogenetic females while differences in habitat use should also be considered. |
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| Keywords: | Reptiles parthenogenesis home range Armenia spatial statistics minimum convex polygon |
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