--1]'" European Congress of Herpetology Veszprem, Hungary ~_

PROGRAMME & ABSTRACTS

-. .". - DEPARTMENT OF UMNOLOGY

University of Pannonia 22-27 August 2013

I~~ ,.Ttll! 1111011 KUI ' "

Invasion patterns of ancient and recent alien herpetofauna in m.e Balearic Islands

Wanda Raquel SILVA-ROCHA, Danide SALV!, Migud A. Cuutnuo

~ u..m ok ["wstip«h mI BifNli~ ~ Rn..rJlH GmitiaJ.. u..i~ "" PornJ GrmpUJ 1'f:r4rn. tk ....... f f l J-Ml V .. iriq, Pmttt .J,·

50ecics introductions arc becoming:l major threat to biodiversity and economy but its effects ~ unevenly disuibuted in time and space. The: Mediu~mlnean Basin is the biodivc:rsity ~t where introductions shape the vertebrate communities in greater extent , being the -ar species the most affected. Due: to their life history, amphibians and reptiles are among =rE groups most widely introduced bm also most threatened by species introduction. Wc:!ite:rranean islands harbour a combination ofherpetofaunal elements: cnclemics long lime

. og uncler insular conditions; natural colonisers from the adjacent continents in recent p:a6ogical limes; and ancient or recent inv.J.ders transported. voluntarily or not. by humans. o:kinguishing bc:rwecn them, as determining the sources and invasion pathways. is not only

-biogeographical interest but also crucial for conservation management. Here we analyse at paradigmatic case of the &loric herpetofauna by using a combination of literature and ~ molecular data. lbe Balearic Islands currently harbour much more alien than native ~ians (411) and reptiles (1112.). Although archaeology dates some introductions back to

~ Scolithic, the Balearic Archipelago has increasingly importing alien species until present. ~ regions and invasion routes have shifted throughout time, from the Eastern Medi­~ and Norm Afria to the Iberian Peninsula and extra-European areas and from pas-

argo transport or food/religion related to pet shops, nursery trade and tourism. Overall, muve amphibian (A{yUJ muktmsis) and rwo native repti les (Podarris li/fordi and P.

~is) arc restricted to Ibiza and the less disturbed Formentera and small islets. Even ~ menaces have increased during the last decade, particularly due to predatory snakes __ competitive laccrtids. While the Balearic herpctofauna forecastS what could be: an omi-

flee. it also provides an opportunity to extract lessons fo r developing effcctive conser­sua regles.

5

..

~ SYSTEMATICS ~,:l ,. am

Cryptic speciation patterns in Iranian rock lizards uncovered by integrative taxonomy

Faraham AHMADZADEH "', Morris Ft.£CKS 1, Miguel A. URRET£ROS ' , Dmid MoZAl'I',.\)u',

Wolfgang B6HME', O. James HARRIS' , Susan2. FREITAS' , Dennis ROOOER '

~, tI!BWtJil1r1Jiry."J Emsysmn M~. Envinmmnrw ~ Rnurr:h instifUft. Shahid Ikhnhri U .. iwl"lity. G.C. £v;n, uhT/ill, I .. .,.: _b"" .d,

·~/tJtilrkl Fonrhu"pmum<m Aln: .. ndn KM,,;:' AJn,.,,_1ln 16ft, fJlI) &nn. en-".,IJJ)

' CIB/D, Cnr/TII tit {1Il1tJ1igz(4"" Bi~i4tuk ~ Rmm(ls Gnl/oos, U"ivrnidtuk <h i'II'to, C4.mpUJ Al""rio tit v".;";o, 448,-661 V"ir4" Por/ug .. 1

• Ari. H~rpm"tTt./ /tU/i'"I/, N" E, " P'U'flSfH 51., SlMhndt+Ho",., Nh,..! Erf""'-"; Hip,.,..,. 'Uh ... ". I ..... ~.

While traditionally species rewgnition has been based solely on morphological differences either typological o r quantitalive, several newly developed methods can be used for a more objective and integrative approach on species dc:limiration. T his may be espedally relevant when deali ng with cryptic species or species complexes, whcre high overall resemblance be­[ .. \leen species is coupled wi th comparativdy high morphological variation within populatioru. Rock lizards, genus DareVlkia, are such an example, as many of iu membel"$ offer few diag­nostic morphological features. Herein, we u~ a combination of genetic ( twO nuclear and rwo mitochondrial loci) , morphological (15 morphomctric, 16 meristic and fou r categorical char­acters) and ecological (1I newly calculated spatial environmental predicwrs) crireria to del imit cryptic species wimin twO species complexes, D. chlorogasurand D. dqilippij, both distributed in northern Iran. Phylogenetic analyses of the molecular data confirmed the monophyly of D. chlorogasfrr, while D. d~fifjppii is paraphyletic in respect to D. suinrri. However, each of the complexes comprises several highly divergent clades, especially when compared to other congeners. We identified seven candidate species within each complex, of whieh three and fou r species are supported by Baycsian species delimitation wi thin D. chlorogasur and D. tkft!ippii (including D. suinm), respectively. Although the species within one complex lack dear diagnostic featu res, they can be well sc-parated based on morphological variables when sample size is appropriate. Ecological Niche Modeling provided addidonal support for the identified species and niche overlaps berween them are generally low, especially in the D. tkft!ippii complex.

Rapid lizard radiation lacking niche conservatism: ecological diversification within a complex landscape

Faraham MIMADZADEH '·l, Morris F LECKS ', Miguel A. CARR£TERO' , Wolfgang BfiHME',

Q::tin h.GAZ" Jan O. ENG LER L', D. James HARKIS', Nuan OZOM ', Dennis R OOOER '

' J),JNlrrmtnl o!BirJivmiry aM frotytmn Mantltnnn'r, En~i,,"'mml6/ S<imUf &mmh l1Urin.,~, ShahiJ BdNfhri lhIiwniry. G.C, &i". Tdmm,/,."

'ZaoWgiJrhn N!nchulfg>mwn<m Akundn KDnfi" AM",,,.~,.,1ln I$D. JJ"J &t"", Gn-t1fJ; J ClBIO, cm,.", J.r InlJt1lilllfth mt BirJiwrsidmk t RRunDr GmIriCOt, V"ivmi&tull tU, /'or"" Camp", AtrJria tU

V .. irh. 4485-661 V.urh. /'ortul-' • Dl!ft~ EyliiIlhIivmiry. NUntl tU'" FfDf'I1l0ttlrrh a"./ Applicorio" Cmm; J$lfO BU(o, luni;, TonhJ

' Bil>Ft'""phJ ~JNlI'fmnII, Trio U"illmity. 14196 Trin; Gn-t1fJ ' Ai/1/tllf Mtnt/rm V"ivmity. I'atlilry o/Scilna ,,,"'Am, IN}Hlrtmmf ofBi""'o ~tO Aydi". Tum,

Divers ification and ~pid radiation ~ well documented in lacenid lizards. Niche conservation is frequently observed among related taxa, whereby niches will not change much during spc­ciation eventS. Here, wc inves tigate the relationship becween environmental niche divergence and phylogenetic rdatedne55 in a widespread group of green lizards, the Luma trilineatll group. A dated phylogeny based on three mitochondrial genes was contc:xmalized using species dis­tribution models of al l genetically identified lineages in the La(tT"14 tritineata group. Based on this analysis. ancestnl climatic niche occupancy was reconstrUcted using niche occupancy pro­files. Niche divergence among lineages was quantified by computing multivariate niche over­laps. All taxa are associated with humid areas. but there is cxtensive variatiOJl in their climatic niche breadths and positions, which accord with the main phylogenetic split in the group. Our results suggest divergent niche evolution within subclades and convergent evolution among clades. which implies only a limited dcgrec of niche conservatism regarding annual variations in temperature and precipitation. In contras t, niche axes-ma.inly reflecting precipitation pattcrns of the coldest quarter-show a greater difference among cIade:s than with.in clades, and therefore a higher degree of niche conservatism. Based on estimated div~rgcnce times between taxa and geological eventS in Anamlia, our resul tS can be explained by fragmentation of the range of a hypothetical ancestnl species, resulting in different adaptations of subclades either to humid continental climates or to more Mediterranean climates. O ur study highlights deviations from classical niche conservatism theory due to significant niche shifts among sister taxa.

86

Investigating the degree of behavioural plasticity in lacertids by comparing two populations of Podarcis carbonelli under different disturbance regimes

Migucl A. URRETERO ', E1ena ARGANA ', Ricardo D UARTE I

' ClBIO. Cmm tk InW1til~. nil /JUJi~ t ~ntff Gnrlrinlf. IJ"iutnU!.uk tU PD •• c.mJlllS ApJri<J M ~jT4o, -U8j.lfif1 ~j,4o, PD-tJ;

' Cmm U InW1tiK"f40 mI Cihrd.u ~Esp"dllil (CICGE). Flln.!4a.k U Ci1ncim Ja u"iwrsiJ.uk "" I'om. RUIl do Cam/", Akgrr 687 • .f169-fNJ7 Por/o. Pom.gllt

' CESAM 6- Drp4rtn/tlll4 tk Bio~. u"illtrtiJadt tk Awi"" Jllo-Ip] Awiro. Po,luglll

Antipredator strategies in lacercids vary across and wimin species. Previous investigations hav~ documented divergent strategies between syntopic species, conspccific populations inhabiting diff~rent habitats and colour morphs and size classes within the same population. Her~, W~

evaluate me degree of plasticiry in the different components of the antipredarory behaviour by comparing !;Wo conspecific populations under divergent disturbance regimes but other­wise environmentally similar. We examined me Ih.ard responses under di rect anack from a predator (simulated by the researcher) in two populations of Podnrds (llr/x)ntUi from geo­graphically close sites from Dofiana National Park (SW Spain). In both casc:s.lizards mainly occupied wooden passes on sandy soil allowing park visitors to reach fauna observatories bur, while one (El Acebuch~) was heavily frequented the other (Ribetehilos) was not. rield ex­periments were carried out during a period with optimal temperatures but OUl of me repro­ductive period (November 2010) to exclude facto rs other than site, sex and size claJis. We recorded variables describing lizard traitS (sex, size class), environment (microhabirat, refuge) and behavioural responses for 128 observations throughout random walking routes. Lizards from the most disturbed population were closer to thei r refuges. regardless li7.ard and habitat features. While liurds from this site were also observed on hotter substrares and males in general escaped into hotter refuges, thermal environment WaJi insufficient to explain the be· havioural d ifferences found. By COntrast with previous studies comparing species or colour morphs, no variation be!;Ween sites for either escape distance, recovery time or recovery dis­tance was recovered. Results reinforce previous claims that individualli7.ards may respond to different levds of disturbance in a direc tional way. However, they also indicate that some componenrs of the antiprooator behaviour are more plaSl ic that others.

98

.. BEHAVIOUR ~,

Predation pressure versus antipredator behaviour: a comparative study

using a lacertid model

\le,; CoRTADA ', Enrique GARCU.·Mu~OZ'···', Migud A. CARlUITERO '

'OBlO, u~"" M '''llGtita(li~.". BioJiwnidAdt t RNwnlll ~nhicos, Uniwnidtt<ktk 1~"~. Ctmp..r At"'In. '" .:.ru. 448J·661 v,,;,.w. hl"lJlt lli; a:sM/, CmtrO tk.&ruJ~.u Ambiau ~ 4# Mu, U"i~ tk Auti"", Ctmpl4.1 Uniwrritiritl tk s."ti6tv. "'in ..1 .... 1'1>. /'r,rtJit,,1 n",.,m"mmfo tk Bjo¥ ..1,,;_ ~ V'f"w', EcDIogW. U"jvmidJultk j4hf, c.,"'PI4M IM lAp"j!Jm Ih., ~l 11th!, Sjwjn

?miation pressure plays a detcrminant rolc: on animal populations selecting amipredatory .:acegic:s in the: putative: prey. Among them, antipredator behaviours arc of interest when -'ysing species interactions since: selection may f.J.vour animals mking advantage of prcvi­_ c-::s:periences to prevent new attacks. Lacenid liz.atds use escape as the most common (:taies

-oen detected by a predator. Both escape and recovery vary across and within species. Here -= analysed in parallel the predation intensity and the antipredaror behaviour [0 assess the ~ of intraspecific variation and the natUre of predator-prey interactions. Size and sex­

'ratialion were also considered to infer eventual interactions between natural and sexual -aion and the possible contribution of experience in predator avoidance.

We studied six populations of the generalist lacertid POMrcis bocagri from NW Porrugal, -..e located in open landscapes of coastal dunes and other three inhabiting agricultural arca5

granite walls. During spring days with suiuble conditions for l~' activity, we recorded .am traitS (sex, size class), environment (microhabitat, refuge) and behavioural responses

simulating a predator attaek for 80-100 lizards/population. Simultaneously, area! predator '"'IISUn: was estimated by placing plasticine models (iOo/sire/day) to record predatory auacks. -. variation in morphology and ecophysiology of the same populations was alre:l.dy known. ~ng populations, predation intensity rather than micro habitat use appeared to be the

__ source of variation in antipredator behaviour. Within populations, interaction berween -.nJ and sexual selection was observed both in escape and recovery behaviours with D:a&es tending to be shier than males. The complex v:uiation observed aplX'U' to be in agree­_ with the predictions of the escilpe theory. Further manipulative experiments are needed

.:isentangle between the effects of plasticity and selection.

Analyzing the impact of blood parasites in selected lizard species from

Portugal and Morocco

babel D.v.t"s-MoR£lRA '.2, joao P. M. C. M,\!" 1.> .... Beatrit TOMt ', Danide S"LVI', Veronica GaMES "" Antigoni fU.UOmLQPOUl.QU '·" Migud A. CuRJiTRRO ',

D. James HARR.Js ' , Ana P£R£RA'

OB/O, o.,t/'IfM J,,_tiprh nil Bi«Ii~ ~ Rrntrws Gm/tiaI, c"",poa Ar;rJro. M VIfi,h, #IJ-III V"irh, hmlgal; lNp<t=",t", #/ Bi#"'tJ. F"(Vl,, #/ ScitttCn, u..iwrJil] #/ Porl#, Port"g"/ huti .... .It Bio~" F.v#/"rilMl (CSIC-UPF), &trrtf#_. S,.j"

'GIud,... "lW, Mlbti",~ BilHiivtJ'Sidadt. Ctntro tit /"WJlig4f40 tm BilHiilJn'1iJ.ttlt. Rmmof Gm/rico. (CiB/D). lhiwnuuiU tit i"",.... fH4-fJif t"",,..., Porftlglf/ Dtp.ttnmt'" o/Ecofqg. EIID/UriO", If"" Drs""is"",/ Biofqg. {JIP 294.J1JJJ. 101lMl $uu Uniumi". Amn. lA, Us..!

. 'umerous studies place parasites in a central role for studying popui:nions' ecology and !heir dynamics. The phylum Apicomplexa is an interesting and d iverse: group of obligate unit .;dIular blood parasites, with a vast distribution, that can pose serious health risks both ix animals and humans. Studies conducted in 1i7.ards have been mainly focused on the m ys is of parasite prevalence and intensity, using Haemogregarines as a model since it is iIIE most common apicomplexan blood parasites in lacenids. However information about ae impact of these parasites on the host is still scarce, which can be of major concern for .:DnKrvation effortS.

Therefore our main goal is to assess what are the impactS of a Haemogregarine parasite on '* fu.ard host. Particularly, we analysed the impact on the immune system. We used the sim­Xfied PHA skin-testing technique, a standard tool for estimating host immune condition. :JUs condition is then related with parasite intensity and circulating blood cells, examined _er the microscope. Identity of parasites was confirmed using 185 rRNA gene sequc:ncC5.

Two assays were carried out: one performed in the field at three Moroccan si tC5, using twO

~trie lizard species (Podarcis vauchm and Sceiarcit pcrpicilkua); me second experiment was a..bboratory bued comparison, with performance testS incorporated, using Podarcis bocagti iIIIm four sites in PortugaL

We found all populuions parasitized with overall high prevalence and intensity. For both ..rys no correlations were found between the PHA response. parasitemia levels or any other IICJ:)r. We thus suggest that these par.uites might have limited impact on lizard health and iimcss. This conclusion can be of conservation significance and we discuss this in the light

-.:!ill'mnc possible scenariO$, particularly that mese parasites might have been coevolving wim lizards for a long time, resulting in a insignificant pathogenicity for the hose.

In

ECOLOGY '

:\ combination of divergence and conservatism in the niche evolution

of Tarentola mauritanica (Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae)

C. RAro ', D.}. H.URlS ' , A. PERERA ' , S. B. CARvALHo '. M.A. CARRrrERO ', D. ROODER'

~/O, Cm~ tk in"migllfu t", BilNiitJmitiJuk. Ruul"U» Gm/riMS, Unillffli.uu M [tmo, Gtmpw Agrdrio M Vmh. 441$-66/ V .. irh. PIIrrup<k

~ ~"''''l'mlUn''' AkanJn K.mir, A4nuzlW>l11N l~ U"l &"", Gmrw"}

The quantification of ecological niche overlap and the integration of species distribution .:xI.els (SOMs) with calibrated phylogenies to study niche: evolution are becoming nOt only l'o\l .. ~rful tools to unclmtand speciation events, but also f proxies regarding the delimitation of gyp!ic species. In this study, we applied these techniques in order to unravel how ecological m e evolved during dadogenesis within the Tarmtola mauritanica species-comp l~.

O rdinarion methods as well as SDMs are used to estimate niche differences and similarities lIttween the lineages of T. mauritanictZ. In order to unravel the evolution of environmental llir:he tolerances, the SDMs .are merged with a known c:.al ibrated phyJogeny for the genus Iiarn tof4.

Diversific:.ation of the 7armtola mauritanica complex involved both niche divergence and lic:he conservatism, with a panern that changes depending on whether the variables involved ~ related to mean temperature and humidity or with the seasonality of these variables.

Between the Miocene and P!eistocene, the diversification ofche lineages encompassed by r lIUluritanica resul ted from a combin.acion of niche conservatism and niche shift, with some aades st ill maintaining a realized niche dininct from their relatives. Moreover, our results III!&CSt that climatic variables rdated to humidity and temperature seasonality were involved

me niche shift and genetic diversific:.ation of the EuropeanlNorth African c1ade during the !\eis[Qcene and to its maintenance in a realized niche distinct from that of the remaining ;&embers of the group. This study furthe r highlights the need for a taxonomic revision of this ~ies·comp[ex .

9

- ECOLOGY

Differential antipredator responses in two sympatric lacertid lizards

.-\namuija z...CAR '.I, )(arja BITENC I, Migud A. CuR£TERO ', Al VREZEC )

0 8/0, Cm,.. tk J"wui,"{h tm B;"Ji~ ~ R«o.IWI GmhinH, u..i~ M Pr"'t>, Cmrpoa AtrJn. tk V~nio. 'U8S-661 VIIi .. ", f'rI_,aI; ~nm(7lt ~rBi~f4v. Billt«h"iclll FM'IlUy. Uniwniry IIfljublftl1lA, V«7IA pDt ///, 10IHI4ubljlf1J4, S/ovmill N.ui"",,! I",,;ru't "f8ioloo Vf(1r,<I PO' Ill, I(N)O Ljub&'~'"'' S/Qw-nia

Synropic popular ions of overall similar laCCf(id species are likely ro share predators. However, prtdarion pressures might be different. Laccnids arc preyed by different predators with djf­ii:rent foraging srt:acegies, namely avian predators mad from above, while terrestrial precla­con attack by approaching on ground (in the open) or by ~arching for prey in their hiding pbCCli. Therefore: lacenids are expected to employ different anripredatory behaviours, either aypsis or early predator detection (visually or chemically) followed by escape to shelter. We conducted an integrative evaluation of both the predator pressure and the antipredator mechanisms for twO morphologically and ecologically similar species: Iba'Ol4ctrta horvathi md Podarcn mura/is, occurring in syntopy in the Northern Dinaric region. We used thrte different approaches: (i) identifying and evaluating the predation pressure o f avian predalors with plasticine models and automatic video cameras, (ii) experimental test of chemical recog­nition of potential snake predators, and (iii) testing the refuge-escape tactia in the field. We have found very low predation pressure by avian predators. The recognition of snake chem­ic:aIs differed between species, I. horvathi, but not P mura/is, recognizing CorontliA austriaca as a potential predator. Interestingly, none of the species responded to the scem of Viptra .mmodJus. Adults of both species intrinsically differed in their escape behaviour when approached by the researcher simulating a ground predator attack. Specifically, I . horvathi tended to escape at greater distance.s and spent more time in the shelter before emerging (longer recovery time:) regardless the air, surface or refuge temperatures and habitat type:. lmplications of these differential anriprc:dator strategies for the: coexistence: of both species arc

discussed.

J 9\

""' PHYLOG EOG RAPHY -'-

Inferring the effects of past climate fluctuations on the distribution pattern of Iranolacerta (Reptilia, Lacertidae): evidence from

mitochondrial DNA and species distribution models

Facaham AHMADZADRH I", Migud Angel URRETERO', Dennis RDoOER',

David James HAR.R!S" $usana Nunes FREITAS ' , Ana PERER.A·, Wolfgang BOHME'

'lHpartmml ofBibdiwnity and Ecosystnn Mllnapm~ Envinmmrollll Scimcn Rmarch bmiluk, Shahid Ikht,hr. Univenily. G.C, Evin, Tthran, Iran;

, ZMlotiJclu, Forn:h""tlmusn.m Ak<a,,,ur Ktunig. Aunaumtlk~ 160, JJIlj Bonn, wrm4ny ' CI810. Qmro <k I"vmigafiio nil BWdivmiddtk (R((SIYWS Gmltiros, Uniwnidtuk M Por/(), Camp", AgrdrW tit

V"';'40 P7-4485-661 v..;,';o. Porrugal

A variety of different methods arc available for investigating the effects of past climate flue­ruation on biota. Among them, molecular phylogeography and species distribution mocleling approaches have been shown to be especially usefUl tools to trace past climate induced modi­ficuions of sp«ies' geographic distributions. The results of both analytical approaches are bc= combined to better understand the influences of past climate changes on the fragmented cfisuiburion partem of the lizard genus franolacrrta that currently occurs in the northwes: a::d c.cnual Zagros Mountains of Iran. While I. zagrosica is restricted to few localities anc ~ Ix modded, the potential distribution of f. bmndti suggested a large region of unn ­~ biliirat btt>,..~n nonhwest and the central Zagros Mountains populations. rrom rh: pL~eric perspective, both species display deep genetic separation likely predating th!" R:ismcx:ne. However, limitcd genedc diversily across this divided range of I. brandtii implies that the current separation is recent. Deeper genetic divergences were, nevertheless, un­covered within the northwest population. Since no recent geological events explain these­resulu, the most likely explanation for such a distribution pattern is due to past climate flu c­tuations. Both sources of evidence suggest that during the early Holocene the northwest :am: Zagros populations of f. bmndtii were connected, and the current pattern was shaped wir:: their disconnection in the: early Holocene. Further studies may identifY potential glacial re­fugia for other species in this biodiverse region.

200

, PHYLOG EOG RAPHY f ~

Multiple dispersal out of Anatolia: biogeography and evolut ion of

Oriental green lizards

Faraham AHMADZADEH '~ , Morris FLECKS ' , Dcnnis R OODU:, Wolfgang B6HME' ,

ytin iLGAZ' , O. James HAAAls'. Jan O. ENGLERl.' . N= OZOM' , Miguel A. ~TER.O·

' f),p"rtmml ~fB;odiwr/;ty .ma &0$]11"" Mllnagnnml. Envirrmmmlal Srimm Resum. [",rit>J/I, Sh.hid ~t; UNillfflilJ. G. C, £Vino mm"" /n", '~h...dnmp.IJnm. AinAtuIn KNIIif, NlnutIU7'ilJl/ln ' H, JJIlJ &mn, Gn-ny; 'I • DoINa Eyfilf Un;/Jfflity. r'll~_""J Fklnt R~WT" '''''' App!iw;nn Cmrn; J$J$Q B",,"·hmir, ant, 'ClBID. Cm,." tk I"'JtSriX"(ii1l tm BilNiiwnidJuk t RmtI'lflS GmIriros. Uniwni-tWk do hr/<), CAmpus Agrdrill U v..i.-.u, H8$~1 v,,;..u, !'.""W" • BiOftl't'"phy lRparrmt"', Tri" U"irJn1iry. Ul p6 Trin. Gwttw"1 ' M""" Mtnd,rn U"ilJmity. F.tcu/ry tI/Srimrt and Am. /Jtp4rtmml qfBioloo O9'JIO lI."i", TknU]

T he O riental green lizards of the Lnctrta "i/inea14 group are widely distributed in Greece, Anatolia, the eastern Mediterranean, the southern Caucasus and [h~ Zagros moumains in lnln. W~ studio:!. m~i r phylogeography using three: mi tochondrial markers wim C(lmprd\~nsiv~ s::Impling from most r~p resentat iv~s of t h~ group. Thei r phylog~ny and divergence times (implememing fossil-based molecular clock calibrations) were inferred using Baye.sian m~thods, and haplotype networks were r«onstructed to asses.'! how g~netic diversity and current dis­u ibutional patterns wefe shap~d. According to our phylogeneti~ analyses, the group consti­rute.1i a wc:1I-supported monophylum conraining sev~ral dist inct evolutionary lin~ages with high haplotype diversity. Vicariance might explain the divergences within most lineages that have accumulated by rang~ restriction and expansion of populations due to Quarternary cli­mate oscillations and glacial refugia. However, niche divergence seems to be a major fo rce promoting $~ciation and large scale distributional patternS berween lineages were shaped earlier by multiple, independcm dispersals out of Anatolia during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene. Our resulu also suggest that the group is in need of a tuonomial revision, lIS idemified lineages and genetic diversity are not congruent with the currently recognised R1bspccies.

'''- ECOLOG Y., . -;

A preliminary study on predation pressure using plasticine models and automatic video camera traps in allotopic and syntopic populations of

two lizards

Katja BITENC ', Anamarija bGAR',l , Migud A. GRRllTIlR0 1, Al VREZEC'

, Dqumme1l1 of Bwlogy, Biou,hn;{4[ FJUUUy, Un;wnity 0/ Ljubijlt1l4. Vdna pot Ill, TOIJO Ljubljllltll, SIo".,.i,,; ",,,i/., ."

' CiBIO, Cm"" <k Invts1;ga{40 mI Biodivtnidiuk t ~('//.I'SOJ Gmfri(O$, UnhxnidaM do Porto, Czmpw AgrJrio 4

V .. irao. 448J-661 Vai""" Portugal J NationAl imrifllu ofBiofcgy, VdnIt pot Ill, 101)() Ljubljll1l4. SIownia

Podarcis muralis and Ibaokrta horvathi are small, ecologically and morphologically simw: Iacertid li7.aroS who can be found living in symparry in southern parts ofSlovenia. Regionalk the only substantial difference found thus far between the twO species was the exhibited ~­ference in altitude of their preferred habitats. In order to try to recognise the mechanis~

behind this kind of segregation we chose to research the effect of predators on these ('Ill":

species. In some systems, predation pressure can promote coexistence of prey species, w~ low predation pressure may be the driving force behind stronger expression of compeuu.. interactions. T he species could both be preyed on by other reptiles, birds and also mamrru...." OUT choice for determining the strength or presence of avian and mammalian predator pro.­sure in syntopic and allotropic locations were plasticine models oflizards, which we set up II groups of 100 in nine localities for one or two days. considering the microhabitat use of OOc species. Additional measures for detection of predators were provided in the forms of :I night vision automatic video camera (U-Way), focused on five plasticine models on ex~ surfaces for the duration of the entire week. At the same time we also recorded presenc:: _ avian predators on all of the nine localities and estimated lizard relative abundance, ~ with collecting mammal scats to investigate the presence oflacertids in their diet . Prelirninz­results of these experiments will be p resented with first analyses and photographs of predl::a e ... ents taken during videQ recording. Plasticine models had marks of small mammals on 6= and " .. e recorded a beech marten (Mllrus foina) appearing to be eating one. Avian pre~ which we most frequently encountered on localities were raven (Gorvus (ornx) and com.::-. buzzard (Butto butto) .

206

BEHAVIOUR ' "'.'

Diversity of lateralization patterns in Tarentola geckos

Enrique GARcfA-MuNOZ 1.:t.\ Catarina RATO ), Barbara MESQUITA', Miguel A. CARRETERO '

' CESAM, Cm"." tU EsfUlii()l,u Ambimu 0 tU; MilT. UnilHnidtuk tk ;/lIt'iro, Clrnpur Univt1'!itJria tk Somtiago, JIIO-I9J liwiro, PoTtuglll;

' OBIO. emir/) tk inmtigario fflI Biodilimidtuk t RKurws Gmmros, UnjllmitWU do Po11o, Campus AgrJrio tk Vttir ..... 448J·6fil Vairio. PortugAl

J Dtpartammto.u Biofogfa AnimaL Biologfa V~NlI J fu/oglA, UniwnUui tb Jam, Campus tU Im LagunilJas sin, 2)071 jdn. Spain

The existence oflatcrally-biascd behaviours in vertebrates is traditionally intcrpretro in terrru ~

of saving costly duplication of neural circuitry and decrc:asing contradictory orders from the [Wo hemispheres. However, when applied to anriprcdaror behaviour, th is is only valid fron: point of view of individuals. At higher levels, being prey behaviour lateraliz.ed could carry negative implications, especially if predators may make prediction after multiple encounters with prey. These conflicting pressures, namely between the advantages for individuals, anc the disadvamages for populadons could be concealed ifhigher-levd lateralization would a~ from the combination oflateralized behaviours of individuals which are mutually dependent. H ere, we investigated the iareralization patterns in escape behaviour by six species of the gech: genus Tam/roia undergoing a predatory attack simulation in a "T" maze experiment. Com rar. to early claims for invariam lateralisation patterns in vertebrates, results showed that ged.: populations and species displayed variable degrees of lateralization. While showing a gene..-_ trend for escaping to the right refuge, some species showed left- and no refuge preference.

224