Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Feeding Ecology of the Lizard, Uta stansburiana, in Southeastern New Mexico

1984; The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; Volume: 18; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1564083

1937-2418

Troy L. Best, A. L. Gennaro,

Rangeland and Wildlife Management

This study presents the first food habit assessment for the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) in the shinnery oak-mesquite habitat (Quercus havardii-Prosopis glandulosa) of southeastern New Mexico. Ants, beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, and spiders formed the major portion of the diet during the four year study. Discriminant analyses revealed the existence of annual, seasonal (monthly), and sexual variation. Variables separating years were incidental in occurrence; the major food categories occurred consistently between years. Seasonal variation was attributed to temporary changes in abundance of arthropods through the growing season. Sexual variation was pronounced in most samples and may be related to sexual size dimorphism or to behavioral differences related to defense of territories and attraction of mates. The sexual differ- ences in diet may act to reduce intraspecific competition for food resources.