Home range and habitat use of Liolaemus forsteri (Iguania: Liolaemidae) in a high Andean region of La Paz, Bolivia

Abstract

Home range (HR) and habitat use are important for a better understanding of species' ecological requirements. We evaluated the HR and microhabitat use of Liolaemus forsteri, an endemic species of the Bolivian Andes, using focal sampling and recording their movements around shelters, and compared the results with information of the phylogenetically related group Boulengeri. HR size was estimated by an adjusted minimum convex polygon analysis. We quantified the habitat use by measuring the time spent by 26 individuals at eight microhabitat types available. HR area (31.2 m², SD = 35.7) did not differ between sexes. The most commonly used microhabitats were low vegetation, shelter edge, rocks, and cushion like vegetation, regarding their availability in the study site. Liolaemus forsteri presented a smaller HR than other species of the Boulengeri group. The climatic conditions of the study site are discussed as possible explanations for this result. The preference for certain microhabitats is attributed to the lower risk of predation near the dens, the easy access to resources for their survival and the influence of extreme temperatures.