Efeitos do clima e microclima sobre a demografia do lagarto Copeoglossum nigropunctatum (Spix, 1825; Squamata: Scincidae) no Parque Estadual do Lajeado/TO

Abstract

The main threats to biodiversity and changes in species distribution and persistence have been attributed to anthropogenic activities and increasing climate change. These factors can result, even, in the local extinction of several species. This research investigated the influence of climatic and microclimatic variables on the demographic parameters of the lizard Copeoglossum nigropunctatum in different Cerrado environments in the Lajeado State Park, Tocantins, Brazil. To capture lizards, 25 interception and fall traps were installed in the Lajeado State Park (PEL). Collections took place monthly from February 2018 to March 2022. The results indicated that body condition shows a noticeable decrease in excessively high temperatures, and when the soil is more humid (waterlogged); on the other hand, there is a consistent increase in body condition in direct correlation with the increase in activity hours. The capture rate peaked during the dry period, with notable collection accumulations between March and September in the corresponding years, contrasting with smaller records during the rainy season. It was observed that there are more captures of males in periods with higher insolation and in environments with greater temperature variation, as there is greater opportunity for thermoregulation in search of reproductive females, skewing the sex ratio towards males. Furthermore, it is observed that activity hours have a positive influence on abundance, especially in environments where temperatures are within the optimal and preferential range for the species. When examining recruitment projections, it was observed that precipitation plays a crucial role in the recruitment of young individuals in the population. The notable recruitment peaks align significantly with the offspring's emergence, evidencing that juveniles are predominantly born in the rainy season, between September and November. These, in turn, reach sexual maturity between June and August, coinciding with the dry season. The abundance of newly hatched individuals during the rainy period is characterized by CRC less than 50 mm. Young individuals’ transition to adulthood during the dry season of the year. In light of current climate projections, the research highlights the ongoing importance of investigating and monitoring these populations to guide conservation strategies in the face of ongoing environmental transformations.