The use of a lacertid lizard as a model for reptile ecotoxicology studies--part 1 field demographics and morphology |
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Authors: | Amaral Maria José Carretero Miguel A Bicho Rita C Soares Amadeu M V M Mann Reinier M |
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Institution: | a CESAM & Departmento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal b CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal c Centre for Environmental Sustainability, University of Technology - Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia d Hydrobiology, Auchenflower, Queensland 4066, Australia |
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Abstract: | At the European level, lacertid lizards have been proposed as potential model species for reptile ecotoxicology. We studied demographic and morphological aspects of natural field subpopulations of Podarcis bocagei inhabiting similar agricultural habitats which were either regularly exposed to pesticides, or not. Parameters examined in this study included population size and density, sex ratio, adult body size, fluctuating asymmetry in femoral pores and parasite prevalence. In general, we detected few statistically significant differences between the exposed and reference subpopulations. Although field situations are ecologically complex and factors other than pesticides may be acting, the absence of observable effects on field subpopulations is probably indicative that lizards are coping or compensating for this level of exposure. |
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Keywords: | Field study Population Podarcis bocagei Environmental contamination Reptile ecotoxicology |
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