Shrub density effects on the presence of an endangered lizard of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, California.

ABSTRACT: Positive associations between animals and foundational shrub species are frequent in desert ecosystems for shelter, resources, refuge, and other key ecological processes. Herein, we tested the impact of the density of the shrub species Ephedra californica on the presence and habitat use of the federally endangered lizard species, Gambelia sila. To do this, we used a 3-year radio telemetry dataset and satellite-based counts of shrub density across sites at the Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo County, CA. The effect of shrub density on lizard presence was contrasted with previous shrub cover analyses to determine whether measures of shrub density were superior to shrub cover in predicting lizard presence. Increasing shrub density increased lizard presence. As

SUBMITTER: Zuliani M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10199236 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature