RICHNESS AND COMPOSITION OF REPTILES IN THREE PLANT COMMUNITIES IN ANTHROPIZED AND CONSERVED ENVIRONMENTS OF COAHUILA, MEXICO
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.3.1065Keywords:
Anthropization, grassland, livestock, lizards, semiarid ecosystems, snakesAbstract
The southeastern region of Coahuila comprises arid and semi-arid ecosystems that host a high diversity of reptiles. However, research on this group is scarce, and their populations are locally threatened by anthropogenic activities. Additionally, the lack of information limits decision-making for ecosystem conservation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and analyze reptile diversity in three vegetation types: grassland, shrubland, and pine forest, during the dry and rainy seasons of 2020. The direct search method was used, consisting of timed free walks to actively search for reptiles during their peak activity periods in suitable habitats. To assess diversity and abundance, rarefaction curves and rank-abundance plots were used, along with the Shannon index to estimate alpha diversity and the Jaccard index to evaluate beta diversity among vegetation communities. A total of 13 species were recorded, including seven snakes and six lizards. Shrubland had the highest species richness (8), but diversity was greater in grassland (H' = 1.72). Beta diversity was highest between grassland and pine forest (70 %), indicating that landscape heterogeneity plays a crucial role in reptile diversity, as each habitat component contributes to species variation. Among the 13 recorded species, nine are listed under NOM-059, and one species is classified by the IUCN. This study highlights the importance of conserving semi-arid ecosystems, as they provide habitat for endemic (e.g., Sceloporus goldmani) and threatened reptile species (e.g., Phrynosoma orbiculare and Masticophis flagellum). Furthermore, the results emphasize the need to implement conservation strategies to mitigate the increasing impact of human activities and ensure the preservation of reptile species in their natural habitats.
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