Spring and summer microhabitat use by Schlegel's Japanese gecko, Gekko japonicus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae), in urban areas.

ABSTRACT: Differential microhabitat use may be beneficial to achieving fitness in seasonally variable environmental conditions. To explore whether the microhabitat use of the nocturnal Schlegel's Japanese gecko, Gekko japonicus, varies seasonally and depends on juvenile, male, and female reproductive groups, we investigated five categorical and five quantitative measure variables of microhabitat use in a wild population both in spring and summer. Most geckos were found on white, vertical planes of concrete and plastered brick walls. None of the categorical variables (type of location, substrate, substrate color, light source, and refuge) significantly differed according to season or group, while substrate temperature and irradiance at the location where geckos were observed and the distance from the

SUBMITTER: Kim DI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6394305 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature