Intership at the GEP

Flore Mias, from the University of Toulouse, has joined the GEP for a 3-months intership. She will be investigating the movement pattern of the Balearic Wall Lizard. 
Welcome, Flore.

New Publication on Lilford's wall lizard !!

Rotger, A., Smith, J.J., Igual, J.-M. and Tavecchia, G., 2016: Relative role of population density and climatic factors in shaping the body growth rate of Lilford’s Wall Lizard (Podarcis lilfordi). Canadian Journal of Zoology. doi: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0188

 Abstract: The growth rate in small reptiles is modulated by per-capita food resources and recent evidence suggested that this constraint is the mechanism underlying differences between cohorts. Per-capita food resources depend on population size and climatic factors, but their relative role in explaining the variations in growth rate is unclear.

Photo: G. Tavecchia

We used morphological data collected over 6 years to model the body growth of an insular lizard (Lilford’s Wall Lizard, Podarcis lilfordi (Günther, 1874)). We used nonlinear equations to describe the appropriate length-at-age relationship. For each sex, seasonal growth was observed and the oscillatory von Bertalanffy curve was fitted to the data. Three age classes were recognized, and we investigated the relative role of density, spring rainfall, and temperature in explaining the variation of the growth rate in each sex-by-age class. Results showed that the relative role of density and climatic factors varied according to the age considered. While population size and temperature had a negative effect on the growth rate of juveniles, rainfall had a positive influence on the growth of subadults. Adult growth was near zero and constant over time. The different role of density-dependent and climatic factors in explaining age-dependent growth rate provides an important insight in understanding lizard population dynamics and life-history tactics.

Lizard October Campaign just started !!

The October campaign on capture-recapture of lizards just started with two new important discoveries:

1 - The "Imperial Sardines pincho"(c), a slice of bread with sardines on fresh tomatoe sauce, chopped garlic, parsley and Soy sauce. Freshly made and freshly served ! 
 



2-  The proof of elephant dwarfism on islands (we were not able to find any giant rat, though)


(...and as usual, we came back with quite a lot of rubbish washed on the island).