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Comparison of a native and a non-native insular reptile species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 September 2015

Daniel J. Nicholson ,
Christopher Hassall  and
Julius A. Frazier
Daniel J. Nicholson*
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Operation Wallacea, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby PE23 4EX, UK
Christopher Hassall
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Julius A. Frazier
Affiliation:
Operation Wallacea, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby PE23 4EX, UK Biological Sciences Department, 1 Grade Ave, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obisbo, CA 93405, USA
*
1 Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

This study compared the life histories of Hemidactylus frenatus, a significant invasive gecko, and Phyllodactylus palmeus, a Honduran endemic, over 10 wk, June–August 2013 at 12 study sites on the Honduran island of Cayo Menor of the Cayo Cochinos archipelago where H. frenatus arrived in 2008. Three different life-history traits related to invasion success were measured: body size, fecundity and population size. During the study 140 natives and 37 non-natives were captured, weighed, measured and marked uniquely. The number of gravid females and number of eggs were also recorded. Phyllodactylus palmeus was the significantly larger of the two species (60% larger mass, 25% longer SVL) and had higher population abundance at all 12 study sites with some sites yielding no H. frenatus individuals. However, H. frenatus had a larger proportion of gravid females. Observations that the native species is more common despite being sympatric with a known aggressive invader suggest two possibilities: the island is at the start of an invasion, or that the two species co-exist in a more stable fashion.

Keywords

Cayos CochinosHemidactylusHonduraslife historiesPhyllodactylus
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 31 , Issue 6 , November 2015 , pp. 563 - 566
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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