EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN ABUNDANCE AND MICROHABITAT USE OF THE GENERALIST LIZARD TROpIDuRuS HISpIDuS

conversion of natural vegetation areas for agriculture causes the local extinction of many species, although a few species may benefit from the conversion. We evaluated how agricultural land use affects the abundance and microhabitat use of the generalist Neotropical Lava Lizard (Tropidurus hispidus) in three vegetation types (Caatinga, Cerrado, and Relictual Humid Forest) in the Caatinga domain of Brazil by comparing areas with natural vegetation and agricultural areas. The abundance of T. hispidus was higher in agricultural areas in the Relictual Humid Forest than in natural habitat, while in Cerrado and Caatinga areas, the species remained stable. We did not identify clear patterns of change in spatial niche amplitude in agricultural areas, indicating that this species is versatile in microhabitat use, but that it showed distinct use of some microhabitat categories between agricultural and natural areas, such as tree trunk and fence stake, possibly reflecting the availability of these resources in different environments. This work contributes to a better understanding of how agricultural land use affects abundance and microhabitat use of T. hispidus and gives us clues as to how Neotropical generalist lizards may respond to these changes.