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Density regulation in the Mediterranean leaf‐toed gecko Euleptes europaea
Author(s) -
Salvidio Sebastiano,
Oneto Fabrizio
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-008-0465-5
Subject(s) - gecko , nocturnal , biology , density dependence , mediterranean climate , abundance (ecology) , population , ecology , population density , extinction (optical mineralogy) , demography , paleontology , sociology
Isolated populations are particularly prone to extinction, and understanding their temporal dynamics is relevant for conservation and management. In this study, the abundance of a population of the nocturnal leaf‐toed gecko Euleptes europaea was estimated by mark‐recapture over a 12‐year period in northwest Italy. Simulation tests showed the presence of density‐dependence, and autoregressive analyses indicated that direct density dependence was responsible for a large part of the variation in population growth rates. Density‐dependent recruitment was suggested as the main demographic mechanism controlling population dynamics, which was also affected by solar radiation measured during the active gecko season. These results may contribute to implement conservation strategies in other small and isolated leaf‐toed gecko populations.