Activity and habitat use of a dune gecko and its spatial and temporal correlation with other animals on dunes

• Published in: Journal of zoology (1987) Vol. 320; no. 3; pp. 193 - 201
• Main Authors: Domer, A., Subach, A., Haimov, R., Dorfman, A., Samocha, Y., Scharf, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-07-2023
• Subjects: Activity patterns; Anderson's short‐fingered gecko; Animals; Correlation; Deserts; Dune stabilization; Dunes; Ecological distribution; Geckos; Habitat changes; Habitat selection; Habitat utilization; Habitats; Interspecific relationships; Microenvironments; Microhabitat; Microhabitats; movement; Natural history; Predator-prey simulation; Predators; predator–prey interactions; Prey; reptiles; seasonal activity; Stenodactylus petrii; Trophic levels
• ISSN: 0952-8369; 1469-7998
• DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13064

Compared with other desert habitats, desert dunes are relatively rich in species, some of which are unique to such habitats. To better understand the interspecific interactions among species in the dunes, their ecology, and their behavior, we studied the habitat use of Stenodactylus petrii. This species is common in desert dunes in Israel and North Africa, and it is a mesopredator, interacting with both its predators and prey, thus affecting populations of both higher and lower trophic levels. We performed an experiment to see whether these animals spend more time in vegetated or open habitats. Our experiment demonstrated that S. petrii individuals moved twice faster out of open dune areas than out of microhabitats simulating desert vegetation. Yet, observations of the gecko's tracks suggest that it is similarly present in open areas and around bushes, necessitating further studies. We also reveal that this nocturnal species is more active earlier in the night than later, and more active in late summer (August) than earlier (June–July). We examined which other co‐occurring animals are active together with the studied gecko in time or space. The spatial and temporal activity patterns of S. petrii are negatively correlated with the activity patterns of gerbils, suggesting that their activity time and microhabitat preference differ. The spatial activity pattern of S. petrii is positively correlated with Tenebrionid ground beetles, suggesting a shared microhabitat preference. However, neither the temporal nor the spatial activity of the gecko is correlated with that of vipers, which are its potential predators. Future studies of S. petrii's natural history are important to understand how expected habitat change (e.g. dune stabilization) should affect it.
Desert sand dunes are unique ecosystems, which host highly adapted species. We studied the habitat use of Stenodactylus petrii, a gecko occurring in seed dunes in North Africa and Israel. The geckos spent more time in vegetated areas than open areas owing to several possible reasons: the ease of digging burrows, a higher abundance of prey, or better protection against some of their predators. The gecko was more active earlier in the night than later, and more active in late summer than earlier. Neither the temporal nor the spatial activity of the gecko is correlated with that of vipers, which are its potential predators. Further knowledge of S. petrii's natural history is valuable as almost nothing is known about it and because its dune habitat is locally threatened.