Habitat segregation patterns of reptiles in Northern Dinaric Mountains (Slovenia)

In: Amphibia-Reptilia
Authors: Anamarija Žagar 1 , 2 , Anamarija Žagar 1 , 2 , Ivan Kos 1 , Anamarija Žagar 1 , 2 , Ivan Kos 1 , and Al Vrezec 3
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  • 1 Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • 2 CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
  • 3 National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Online Publication Date:
01 Jan 2013
In:
Volume 34: Issue 2
Article Type:
Research Article
Pages:
263–268
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00002889
Keywords:
habitat use; reptiles; Slovenia; spatial segregation pattern

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We have surveyed sympatric reptiles in a diverse and preserved montane environment in the Northern Dinaric region (Southern Slovenia) to determine the assemblage structure and assess the patterns of habitat segregation. Altitude and habitat type contributed the most to segregations between the most abundant species. The most similar were species pairs of L. viridis/bilineata and P. muralis, and I. horvathi and V. ammodytes. In snakes, significant segregation patterns have been observed between all species. Among lizards, we have found strong altitudinal segregation between two morphologically and ecologically most similar species; P. muralis was most abundant at low and I. horvathi at higher elevations. This result indicated a potential competitive interaction between these species.

In:
Amphibia-Reptilia
E-ISSN:
1568-5381
Print ISSN:
0173-5373
Publisher:
Brill
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