Short-term impact of a small wildfire on the lizard Psammodromus algirus (linnaeus, 1758): a Before-after-control-impact study (squamata: sauria: lacertidae)
- Moreno Rueda, Gregorio
- Melero, Elena
- Reguera, Senda
- Zamora-Camacho, Francisco Javier
- Comas, Mar
Any de publicació: 2019
Tipus: Article
Resum
In Mediterranean environments, wildfires are key in modelling landscapes, ecological succession and thedynamics of species and communities. however, in recent years, wildfires have increased in number and extent,resulting in a conservation concern. still, it is generally thought that reptiles are usually not harmed by wildfires,or even may be benefited. here, the authors used a Before-after-control-impact design to examine the effect of asmall wildfire (16 ha) on the abundance of a lizard, Psammodromus algirus (linnaeUs, 1758). The findings suggestthat the local population crashed as a result of the wildfire, although juvenile lizards quickly recolonized theburnt area from adjacent sites. almost a year after the fire, an adult P. algirus was detected in the burnt area.Therefore, the present study highlights that even a very small wildfire may negatively impact a Mediterraneanlizard.