Microhabitat Selection by Texas Horned Lizards in Southern Texas

Burrow, Anna L.; Kazmaier, Richard T.; Hellgren, Eric C.; Ruthven, Donald C.

doi:10.2307/3803015

Cited by 44 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…Differences in vegetative structural complexity may have affected predation risk, food abundance or the thermoregulatory environment (Vitt and Ohmart, 1977;Wiens, 1985;Bock et al, 1990;Burrow et al, 2001). While we cannot address the latter mechanism, we found no difference in the abundance of three prey species across the grazing fence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Effects of livestock removal and perennial grass recovery on the lizards of a desertified arid grassland

Castellano

Valone

2006

Journal of Arid Environments

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Effects of livestock removal and perennial grass recovery on the lizards of a desertified arid grassland

Castellano

Valone

2006

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…It may be that our perception of Texas horned lizard habitat is incomplete because of a lack of detailed studies. Many studies that evaluated Texas horned lizard habitat considered only the landscape rather than microhabitat features (Whiting et al , Burrow et al ). Without further study, we can only speculate as to whether the vegetation types, soil types, or vegetative structure at the MWMA site are suitable for supporting a reintroduced population, or whether we have overlooked a vital component of Texas horned lizard habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Use and Survivorship of Translocated Wild‐Caught Texas Horned Lizards

et al. 2019

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The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum), a state threatened species in Texas, USA, appears to be declining throughout much of its distribution. Because of popular interest in restoring lizard populations, we conducted a 3‐year radio‐telemetric study to evaluate the feasibility of reintroducing Texas horned lizards into previously occupied areas with suitable habitat characteristics. We translocated lizards from natural populations in western Texas to the McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse Wildlife Management Area (MWMA) in the Cross Timbers and Prairies of north‐central Texas, an ecoregion that has experienced apparent local extirpations of horned lizards. We translocated lizards after partly restoring a 32.5‐ha portion of the MWMA from ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei)‐honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) woodland to mid‐grass prairie. After a 10‐day acclimation period and soft release, we tracked 57 horned lizards from March 2014 to October 2016 to evaluate daily movements, spatial use, sources of mortality, reproduction, and changes in body condition. Daily movement averages (1.16–174.18 m) and area used by individuals (<0.01–6.81 ha) were similar to those recorded for natural populations, with peaks in movement occurring in May and June. Annual survivorship for individuals (1.1–47.2%) was also similar to that reported from natural populations; however, survivorship declined across the 3 active seasons. Although mortality of translocated lizards was high, body condition remained relatively stable across active seasons, and reproduction occurred each year, indicating that translocation could be a viable option for restoring horned lizard populations to previously occupied parts of their range. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Nevertheless, the habitat variables in the best-performing habitat and habitat-niche models were bare ground/mixed vegetation, shrub, and unmowed grass, which were consistent with preferences of Texas horned lizards for a mosaic of bare ground, herbaceous vegetation, and woody cover (Whiting et al, 1993, Burrow et al, 2001). …”

Section: Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 68%