Yucheng SONG,Yang LIU,Yingying LIN,et al.Burrow Characteristics and Microhabitat Use of the Turpan Wonder Gecko Teratoscincus roborowskii (Squamata, Gekkonidae)[J].Asian Herpetological Research(AHR),2017,8(1):61-69.[doi:10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.160028]
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Burrow Characteristics and Microhabitat Use of the Turpan Wonder Gecko Teratoscincus roborowskii (Squamata, Gekkonidae)
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Asian Herpetological Research[ISSN:2095-0357/CN:51-1735/Q]

Issue:
2017 VoI.8 No.1
Page:
61-69
Research Field:
Publishing date:
2017-03-25

Info

Title:
Burrow Characteristics and Microhabitat Use of the Turpan Wonder Gecko Teratoscincus roborowskii (Squamata, Gekkonidae)
Author(s):
Yucheng SONG1; 2#;  Yang LIU1; 3#;  Yingying LIN1;  Tao LIANG1 and Lei SHI1*
1 College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
2 Hunan East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve, Yueyang 414000, Hunan, China
3 Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu 610081, Sichuan, China
Keywords:
arid desert habitat;  burrow depth;  entrance height;  entrance orientation;  entrance width;  microhabitat selection;  retreat site
PACS:
-
DOI:
10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.160028
Abstract:
Burrow structural charactersitcs and microhabitat use of the Turpan wonder gecko Teratoscincus roborowskii (Gekkonidae) were studied between April and September of 2013 in the Turpan Eremophytes Botanic Garden, in the Turpan Depression of Western China. Burrow depth, entrance orientation, entrance height and width were observed. We assessed microhabitat selection and noted differences in microhabitat use among males, females, and juveniles. The magnitude of selection was measured using Jacobs’ index of selectivity. Entrance height and width of the burrows of adults were significantly larger than those of juveniles, but the difference in burrow depth was not significant. The directional orientation of the burrow entrance showed a preference for the north-northeast and south-southeast, which were likely influenced by local prevailing winds and sunlight. Both the adult and juvenile geckos prefer to construct their burrows in sandy soil within a layer of loose soil whose thickness is greater than 30 cm. A majority of the burrows were located within 20 m of the nearest plant. Nearly half (48%) of the entrances of juveniles were located within 5 m of the nearest vegetation, significantly different from those of the adults. Results showed that the Turpan wonder gecko did not utilize microhabitats according to their availability, but rather that it preferred microhabitats which contained dead wood or the caper bush. Our results suggested that burrow characteristics and microhabitat selection were important factors in T. roborowskii adaptation to harsh and arid desert habitats.

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Last Update: 2017-03-25