Outcompeted by an invader?Interference and exploitative competition between tropical house gecko(Hemidactylus mabouia)and Barbados leaf-toed gecko(Phyllodactylus pulcher)for diurnal refuges in anthropogenic coastal habitats  

作　　者：Robert WILLIAMS Angelo P.PERNETTA Julia A.HORROCKS 

机构地区：[1]Ecology and Conservation Research Group,School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences,University of Brighton,Brighton,UK [2]Ecology and Conservation Research Group,University of Brighton,Hastings,UK [3]Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences,University of the West Indies,Barbados,West Indies

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2016年第3期229-238,共10页整合动物学（英文版）

摘　　要：House geckos in the genus Hemidactylus are highly successful colonizers of regions beyond their native range,with colonization often resulting in displacement of native gecko species through competitive interactions for daytime refuge(crevices)and prey resources.We report on data collected from nighttime surveys undertak­en in April-May 2014 on Barbados,West Indies,that focused on the distribution and abundance of the endem­ic Barbados leaf-toed gecko(Phyllodactylus pulcher)and the introduced tropical house gecko(Hemidactylus mabouia)along unlit coastal walls and among boulders in the grounds of a hotel resort.In contrast to patterns of displacement of native species by H.mabouia seen elsewhere,P.pulcher was more abundant than H.mabouia on coastal walls,whereas the latter was found in greater numbers using boulders at this site.Walls and boulders differed with regard to availability of diurnal refugia suitable for geckos,with the walls having high frequen­cy of small crevices with openings<20 mm,and boulders offering very little cover other than the underside of the boulder itself.To investigate whether this niche separation was a result of differences in diurnal refuge use between the species,we conducted experimental trials in which geckos were allowed to select between refu­gia with different characteristics.Both species selected for narrower and warmer refugia,and refugia that had been previously occupied by the other species.These shared preferences for refugia type suggest that other fac­tors underlie the niche separation observed in the field.In supporting high densities of P.pulcher,coastal walls could offer important secondary habitat by augmenting the natural cliff side habitat of this endemic gecko,a finding that could be exploited for the conservation of this candidate species for Critically Endangered classifi­cation.

关 键 词：Barbados leaf-toed gecko HEMIDACTYLUS island endemic Phyllodactylus tropical house gecko 

分 类 号：P73[天文地球—海洋科学]