Date of Award

Spring 5-10-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Science

Department

Biological Sciences

Committee Chair

Chris Kellner

Second Committee Member

Jorista Garrie

Third Committee Member

Suresh Subedi

Program Director

Tom Nupp

Dean of Graduate College

Sarah Gordon

Abstract

Lizards are useful in determining links between habitat use, morphology, and performance since they occupy many structurally distinct habitats. Prairie lizards (Sceloporus consobrinus) inhabit three distinct habitat types in Central Arkansas: rocky, forested, and intermediate or mixed habitats. Though geographically close, these habitats have fundamentally different microclimates, substrates, predators, and prey availabilities for lizards. My objectives here are to assess the impact of those structurally different habitats on body temperature, morphology, and predation on prairie lizards. I captured 117 individuals in 2022 and compared those lizards with 809 captures from 2016-2017. The cloacal temperature did not differ among habitats yet there was a significant difference in cloacal temperature between sex in 2022 (W=1174.5, p

My second objective was to compare population estimates and survival and encounter probabilities among habitat types. General population estimates were calculated by using the Lincoln-Peterson ratio. Survival and encounter probabilities were acquired by using Program Mark. The best model for overall survival and encounter probability, i.e., when looking at all the data without separating by habitat or sex, was constant. There was no difference in encounter or survival probability when data was separated by habitat. Still, between sex, males had a higher survival probability than females though the encounter probability for both was the same.

Additional Files
signature page.pdf (30 kB)
signed defense.pdf (67 kB)
Thesis Topic Approval Form.pdf (409 kB)
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