Reyes-Puig Carolina, Enriquez-Urzelai Urtzi, Sillero Neftalí, Kaliontzopoulou Antigoni
CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal.
BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal.
Ecol Evol. 2025 Jul 31;15(8):e71802. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71802. eCollection 2025 Aug.
The differences in niche structure enable the coexistence of ecologically similar species by reducing direct competition, combining spatial and temporal segregation with phenotypic variation that influences the differential use of resources and habitats. In this study, we examined niche differences in two coexisting green lizard species, and , in northern Portugal. Both species differ in body size and habitat preferences, providing an excellent model to investigate mechanisms of niche differentiation. We integrated field observations on environmental variables (temperature, humidity, and illumination), body temperatures, microhabitat use, and activity patterns to complement previously published experimental results on mechanisms of species coexistence. Our observations revealed that prefers drier, rocky, and open areas and human-built structures, while . was predominantly found in moist microhabitats with dense vegetation. Additionally, we detected differences in activity patterns, where displayed unimodal activity peaks around midday, while . exhibited bimodal patterns with activity peaks in the afternoon. These field-derived patterns of microhabitat use and activity patterns were congruent with the thermal and water balance preferences of the two species quantified through previously published experimental trials. Spatial and temporal variations-particularly microhabitat relative humidity and time of activity-were found to be key factors in niche differences.
生态位结构的差异通过减少直接竞争，将空间和时间隔离与影响资源和栖息地差异利用的表型变异相结合，使得生态上相似的物种能够共存。在本研究中，我们调查了葡萄牙北部两种共存的绿蜥蜴物种，[物种名称1]和[物种名称2]的生态位差异。这两个物种在体型和栖息地偏好上均有所不同，为研究生态位分化机制提供了一个绝佳的模型。我们整合了关于环境变量（温度、湿度和光照）、体温、微生境利用和活动模式的实地观察结果，以补充先前发表的关于物种共存机制的实验结果。我们的观察结果显示，[物种名称1]更喜欢干燥、多岩石、开阔的区域以及人造建筑，而[物种名称2]主要出现在植被茂密的潮湿微生境中。此外，我们还检测到了活动模式的差异，[物种名称1]在中午左右呈现单峰活动高峰，而[物种名称2]则表现出双峰模式，活动高峰出现在下午。这些从实地得出的微生境利用模式和活动模式与通过先前发表的实验测定的两个物种的热平衡和水平衡偏好相一致。空间和时间变化——特别是微生境相对湿度和活动时间——被发现是生态位差异的关键因素。
