The lizard that never sleeps: activity of the pampa marked gecko Homonota uruguayensis / El lagarto que nunca duerme: actividad del gecko del pampa Homonota uruguayensis

La suposición general ha sido que los lagartos son activos cuando las condiciones climáticas son favorables. Homonota uruguayensis (Vaz-Ferreira & Sierra de Soriano, 1961) es la única lagartija nativa - y la lagartija nocturna - que vive en el norte de bioma Pampa. La ecología de esta especie es poco conocida y este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir su patrón de actividad diaria y anual y su relación con las temperaturas ambientales. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el extremo sur de Brasil (Rosário do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul), a partir de mayo 2010 - enero 2011, en un afloramiento rocoso situado en el bioma Pampa. El estudio totalizó cuatro excursiones de campo estacionales y 1185 horas. Los datos fueron recogidos a lo largo de los turnos de 6 horas durante el día y la noche. El área fue recorrida aleatoriamente en cada turno siempre registrandose la actividad y el microhabitat utilizado por los lagartos. A lo largo del estudio, 1541 especímenes se registraron. Homonota uruguayensis presentó hábito diurno y nocturno en las cuatro estaciones, con períodos de actividad diaria variando significativamente entre todas las estaciones en forma cíclica y multimodal, no se observó relación significativa con las temperaturas ambientales. No fue constatada diferencia entre los sexos con relación a la actividad y las clases de edad. La mayoría de los lagartos activos fue encontrada a temperaturas del aire que variaron de 14 °C a 32,9 °C (82% de lagartos activos) y a temperaturas del sustrato entre 10 °C y 32,9 °C (87% de lagartos activos).(AU)

It is generally assumed that lizards are active whenever climatic conditions are favorable. Homonota uruguayensis (Vaz-Ferreira & Sierra de Soriano, 1961) is the only native gecko - and nocturnal lizard - living in the northern Pampa biome, and its ecology is poorly known. This study aimed at describing this species pattern of daily and annual activity and its relation with environmental temperatures. The study was conducted in the extreme south of Brazil (Rosário do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul), between May 2010 and January 2011 at a rocky outcrop located in the Pampa biome. The study was carried out in a total of four seasonal field trips, totalizing 1185 hours of field work. The data were collected, both during the day and the night in 6-hour shifts (duration of the sampling period). The area was randomly covered at each shift to record activity and microhabitat use by the lizards. In total 1541 specimens were recorded throughout the study. Homonota uruguayensis showed diurnal and nocturnal activity in the four seasons, with periods of daily activity varying significantly between all seasons in a cyclic and multimodal pattern, with no significant relation with environmental temperatures. There was no difference in activity related to sex and age classes. Most active lizards were found when air temperatures ranged from 14 °C to 32.9 °C (82% of active lizards) and substrate temperatures ranged from 10 °C to 32.9 °C (87% of active lizards).(AU)

The lizard that never sleeps: activity of the pampa marked gecko Homonota uruguayensis / El lagarto que nunca duerme: actividad del gecko del pampa Homonota uruguayensis

La suposición general ha sido que los lagartos son activos cuando las condiciones climáticas son favorables. Homonota uruguayensis (Vaz-Ferreira & Sierra de Soriano, 1961) es la única lagartija nativa - y la lagartija nocturna - que vive en el norte de bioma Pampa. La ecología de esta especie es poco conocida y este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir su patrón de actividad diaria y anual y su relación con las temperaturas ambientales. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el extremo sur de Brasil (Rosário do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul), a partir de mayo 2010 - enero 2011, en un afloramiento rocoso situado en el bioma Pampa. El estudio totalizó cuatro excursiones de campo estacionales y 1185 horas. Los datos fueron recogidos a lo largo de los turnos de 6 horas durante el día y la noche. El área fue recorrida aleatoriamente en cada turno siempre registrandose la actividad y el microhabitat utilizado por los lagartos. A lo largo del estudio, 1541 especímenes se registraron. Homonota uruguayensis presentó hábito diurno y nocturno en las cuatro estaciones, con períodos de actividad diaria variando significativamente entre todas las estaciones en forma cíclica y multimodal, no se observó relación significativa con las temperaturas ambientales. No fue constatada diferencia entre los sexos con relación a la actividad y las clases de edad. La mayoría de los lagartos activos fue encontrada a temperaturas del aire que variaron de 14 °C a 32,9 °C (82% de lagartos activos) y a temperaturas del sustrato entre 10 °C y 32,9 °C (87% de lagartos activos).

It is generally assumed that lizards are active whenever climatic conditions are favorable. Homonota uruguayensis (Vaz-Ferreira & Sierra de Soriano, 1961) is the only native gecko - and nocturnal lizard - living in the northern Pampa biome, and its ecology is poorly known. This study aimed at describing this species pattern of daily and annual activity and its relation with environmental temperatures. The study was conducted in the extreme south of Brazil (Rosário do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul), between May 2010 and January 2011 at a rocky outcrop located in the Pampa biome. The study was carried out in a total of four seasonal field trips, totalizing 1185 hours of field work. The data were collected, both during the day and the night in 6-hour shifts (duration of the sampling period). The area was randomly covered at each shift to record activity and microhabitat use by the lizards. In total 1541 specimens were recorded throughout the study. Homonota uruguayensis showed diurnal and nocturnal activity in the four seasons, with periods of daily activity varying significantly between all seasons in a cyclic and multimodal pattern, with no significant relation with environmental temperatures. There was no difference in activity related to sex and age classes. Most active lizards were found when air temperatures ranged from 14 °C to 32.9 °C (82% of active lizards) and substrate temperatures ranged from 10 °C to 32.9 °C (87% of active lizards).

The lizard that never sleeps: activity of the pampa marked gecko Homonota uruguayensis

RESUMEN La suposición general ha sido que los lagartos son activos cuando las condiciones climáticas son favorables. Homonota uruguayensis (Vaz-Ferreira & Sierra de Soriano, 1961) es la única lagartija nativa - y la lagartija nocturna - que vive en el norte de bioma Pampa. La ecología de esta especie es poco conocida y este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir su patrón de actividad diaria y anual y su relación con las temperaturas ambientales. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el extremo sur de Brasil (Rosário do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul), a partir de mayo 2010 - enero 2011, en un afloramiento rocoso situado en el bioma Pampa. El estudio totalizó cuatro excursiones de campo estacionales y 1185 horas. Los datos fueron recogidos a lo largo de los turnos de 6 horas durante el día y la noche. El área fue recorrida aleatoriamente en cada turno siempre registrandose la actividad y el microhabitat utilizado por los lagartos. A lo largo del estudio, 1541 especímenes se registraron. Homonota uruguayensis presentó hábito diurno y nocturno en las cuatro estaciones, con períodos de actividad diaria variando significativamente entre todas las estaciones en forma cíclica y multimodal, no se observó relación significativa con las temperaturas ambientales. No fue constatada diferencia entre los sexos con relación a la actividad y las clases de edad. La mayoría de los lagartos activos fue encontrada a temperaturas del aire que variaron de 14 °C a 32,9 °C (82% de lagartos activos) y a temperaturas del sustrato entre 10 °C y 32,9 °C (87% de lagartos activos).

ABSTRACT It is generally assumed that lizards are active whenever climatic conditions are favorable. Homonota uruguayensis (Vaz-Ferreira & Sierra de Soriano, 1961) is the only native gecko - and nocturnal lizard - living in the northern Pampa biome, and its ecology is poorly known. This study aimed at describing this species pattern of daily and annual activity and its relation with environmental temperatures. The study was conducted in the extreme south of Brazil (Rosário do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul), between May 2010 and January 2011 at a rocky outcrop located in the Pampa biome. The study was carried out in a total of four seasonal field trips, totalizing 1185 hours of field work. The data were collected, both during the day and the night in 6-hour shifts (duration of the sampling period). The area was randomly covered at each shift to record activity and microhabitat use by the lizards. In total 1541 specimens were recorded throughout the study. Homonota uruguayensis showed diurnal and nocturnal activity in the four seasons, with periods of daily activity varying significantly between all seasons in a cyclic and multimodal pattern, with no significant relation with environmental temperatures. There was no difference in activity related to sex and age classes. Most active lizards were found when air temperatures ranged from 14 °C to 32.9 °C (82% of active lizards) and substrate temperatures ranged from 10 °C to 32.9 °C (87% of active lizards).

Activity patterns and use of microhabitat in lizards of the genus Tropidurus in a urbanized area of Natal, Brazil / Padrões de atividade e utilização de micro-habitat em lagartos do gênero Tropidurus em espaço urbanizado de Natal, Brasil

This study analyzed sun exposure, substrate type selected, and various behaviors exhibited by the lizard Tropidurus during thermoregulation. Observation entailed thirty days in an urbanized area of Centro de Biociências/ Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Their behavior was recorded using a scan sampling route and an instantaneous record method at three different time intervals (9am to 10am, 12am to 1pm, and 3pm to 4pm). Significant differences were seen with sun exposure (p = 0.027), with most lizards remaining in shadowed areas, where the animals preferentially remained standing (p 0.001). We were also able to observe more lizards in the following substrates: tile, wall, rocks, and bricks (p 0.001). In addition, the animals were in these substrates more frequently from 12am to 1pm (p = 0.004). (AU)

Analisamos a exposição solar, o tipo de substrato e os comportamentos exibidos por lagartos Tropidurus durante a termorregulação. Foram realizados 30 dias de observações nos horários 9h-10h, 12h-13h e 15-16h, através de amostragem por escaneamento, com registro instantâneo a cada um minuto, em um espaço urbanizado do Centro de Biociências/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Observamos diferença significativa quanto à exposição solar (P = 0,027), com a maior ocorrência de lagartos em áreas sombreadas, onde os animais preferencialmente permaneceram parados (P < 0,001). Observou-se maior frequência de lagartos em substratos compostos por telhas, paredes, rochas e tijolos (P < 0,001). Os animais tiveram maior ocorrência nesses substratos no horário 12h-13h (P < 0,05).(AU)

Activity patterns and use of microhabitat in lizards of the genus Tropidurus in a urbanized area of Natal, Brazil / Padrões de atividade e utilização de micro-habitat em lagartos do gênero Tropidurus em espaço urbanizado de Natal, Brasil

This study analyzed sun exposure, substrate type selected, and various behaviors exhibited by the lizard Tropidurus during thermoregulation. Observation entailed thirty days in an urbanized area of Centro de Biociências/ Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Their behavior was recorded using a scan sampling route and an instantaneous record method at three different time intervals (9am to 10am, 12am to 1pm, and 3pm to 4pm). Significant differences were seen with sun exposure (p = 0.027), with most lizards remaining in shadowed areas, where the animals preferentially remained standing (p 0.001). We were also able to observe more lizards in the following substrates: tile, wall, rocks, and bricks (p 0.001). In addition, the animals were in these substrates more frequently from 12am to 1pm (p = 0.004).

Analisamos a exposição solar, o tipo de substrato e os comportamentos exibidos por lagartos Tropidurus durante a termorregulação. Foram realizados 30 dias de observações nos horários 9h-10h, 12h-13h e 15-16h, através de amostragem por escaneamento, com registro instantâneo a cada um minuto, em um espaço urbanizado do Centro de Biociências/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Observamos diferença significativa quanto à exposição solar (P = 0,027), com a maior ocorrência de lagartos em áreas sombreadas, onde os animais preferencialmente permaneceram parados (P < 0,001). Observou-se maior frequência de lagartos em substratos compostos por telhas, paredes, rochas e tijolos (P < 0,001). Os animais tiveram maior ocorrência nesses substratos no horário 12h-13h (P < 0,05).