Ocupação e detectabilidade do lagarto endêmico Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata: Liolaemidae) em áreas de restinga do estado do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

In the first chapter, we carried out a systematic review through database searches of articles that used the occupation methodology proposed by Mackenzie et al. (2002) for the lizard group. A total of 25 articles that met the requirements were found, distributed across nine different countries. 42 species of lizards were studied in these articles, five of them in more than one. A total of 47 occupation variables were tested by the authors, 30 of which were influential in the analysis. Another 33 variables were tested for detectability by the authors and 22 of them were influential in the analysis. In the second chapter, we sample 25 different beach habitats from restinga areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro. We performed linear transects and used occupancy modeling to determine the factors that influence occupancy and detectability of the species Liolaemus lutzae Mertens, 1938, a critically endangered small liolaemid lizard restricted to restinga habitats in the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Additionally, we investigated which populations of this lizard remain occupying the sampled areas. The estimated probability of occupancy was 69% (0.69 ± 0.05) and the estimated detectability was 50% (0.50 ± 0.03). The detection model with the best fit contained only the air temperature variable. Occupancy was best described by four variables: number of sources of disturbance in the transect, vegetation cover in a 50-meter buffer, exposed sand cover in a 20-meter buffer, and built-up area coverage in a 50-meter buffer. Of the 25 restingas sampled, in six we did not find individuals of L. lutzae: Piratininga, Camboinhas, Itaipu and Itacoatiara, in the municipality of Niterói; Praia dos Anjos in the municipality of Arraial do Cabo, and Praia do Foguete in the municipality of Cabo Frio. The first five areas of beach habitat were already known to have their populations of L. lutzae extirpated while the last one indicates a possible extirpation of the population, since in studies carried out in the region in the last 15 years, the species was still found frequently. We recommend that measures be implemented to mitigate the anthropic impacts on its remaining populations along its extension, preserving the vegetation in more restinga areas.