Cambios en la riqueza y abundancia de reptiles a un evento del Desierto Florido en la Región de Atacama, Chile

Abstract

Changes in seasonal richness and abundance, as well as changes associated with habitat use and vegetation formations of reptiles, were analyzed in response to the 2010 flowering desert (DF) event in the Atacama Region, Chile. Richness increased from four to eight species when comparing periods before and after the DF. Liolaemus atacamensis and L. nigromaculatus were the most frequent and abundant species, followed by Callopistes maculatus and L. platei. Total abundance also increased during the post-event period (mainly in spring and summer), but with seasonal variations depending on the species, and with high variability across all of them. Thus, L. platei and C. maculatus were recorded at only one station in the pre-event period (25% frequency), and this increased to four stations in the post-event period (80% frequency); for both species, there was a significant increase in abundance in the post-DF period compared to the pre-DF period. The use of habitats by reptiles diversified in the post-DF period compared to the pre-DF period. In scrub and scrub with succulents habitats, the richness and abundance of reptiles increased in the post-DF stage compared to the pre-DF stage, as did in areas devoid of vegetation, while species appeared in grasslands. In the case of presence in DF formations, greater richness was observed for all post-DF seasons compared to pre-DF seasons.