scholarly journals Distribution of the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) and landscape favourability for the species in Northern Ireland

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aodan Farren ◽  
Paulo Prodöhl ◽  
Peter Laming ◽  
Neil Reid
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Potential Range ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Raised Bog ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Republic

AbstractThe common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is Ireland's only native reptile, forming a key part of the island's biodiversity. However, there is a general paucity of distributional and abundance data for the species. In this study, we collated incidental records for common lizard sightings to define the distribution of the species in Northern Ireland. Maximum entropy modelling was employed to describe species-habitat associations. The resulting predicted landscape favourability was used to evaluate the current status of the species based on the distribution of its maximum potential range in relation to the degree of fragmentation of remaining suitable habitat. In common with previous studies in the Republic of Ireland, sightings were highly clustered indicating under-recording, observer bias, and fragmentation of suitable habitat. A total of 98 records were collated from 1905 to 2009. The species was recorded in 63 (ca. 34%) of 186 × 10 km Northern Irish grid squares. Lizard occurrence was strongly and positively associated with landscapes dominated by heathland, bog and coastal habitats. The single best approximating model correctly classified the presence of lizards in 84.2% of cases. Upland heath, lowland raised bog and sand dune systems are all subject to Habitat Action Plans in Northern Ireland and are threatened by conversion to agriculture, afforestation, invasive species encroachment and infrastructural development. Consequently, remaining common lizard populations are likely to be small, isolated and highly fragmented. Establishment of an ecological network to preserve connectivity of remaining heath and bog will not only benefit remaining common lizard populations but biodiversity in general.

scholarly journals Chromosome-Level Assembly of the Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) Genome

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1953-1960
Author(s):  
Andrey A Yurchenko ◽  
Hans Recknagel ◽  
Kathryn R Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Linkage Map ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Squamate Reptiles ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common ◽  
Chromosome Level

Abstract Squamate reptiles exhibit high variation in their phenotypic traits and geographical distributions and are therefore fascinating taxa for evolutionary and ecological research. However, genomic resources are very limited for this group of species, consequently inhibiting research efforts. To address this gap, we assembled a high-quality genome of the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara (Lacertidae), using a combination of high coverage Illumina (shotgun and mate-pair) and PacBio sequencing data, coupled with RNAseq data and genetic linkage map generation. The 1.46-Gb genome assembly has a scaffold N50 of 11.52 Mb with N50 contig size of 220.4 kb and only 2.96% gaps. A BUSCO analysis indicates that 97.7% of the single-copy Tetrapoda orthologs were recovered in the assembly. In total, 19,829 gene models were annotated to the genome using a combination of ab initio and homology-based methods. To improve the chromosome-level assembly, we generated a high-density linkage map from wild-caught families and developed a novel analytical pipeline to accommodate multiple paternity and unknown father genotypes. We successfully anchored and oriented almost 90% of the genome on 19 linkage groups. This annotated and oriented chromosome-level reference genome represents a valuable resource to facilitate evolutionary studies in squamate reptiles.

scholarly journals Environmental variation mediates the prevalence and co-occurrence of parasites in the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara

BMC Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Wu ◽  
Murielle Richard ◽  
Alexis Rutschmann ◽  
Donald B. Miles ◽  
Jean Clobert
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common

Abstract Background Hosts and their parasites are under reciprocal selection, leading to coevolution. However, parasites depend not only on a host, but also on the host’s environment. In addition, a single host species is rarely infested by a single species of parasite and often supports multiple species (i.e., multi-infestation). Although the arms race between a parasite and its host has been well studied, few data are available on how environmental conditions may influence the process leading to multiple infestations. In this study, we examine whether: (1) environmental factors including altitude, temperature, vegetation cover, human disturbance, and grazing by livestock affect the prevalence of two types of ectoparasites, mites and ticks, on their host (the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara) and (2) competition is evident between mites and ticks. Results We found the probability of mite infestation increased with altitude and vegetation cover, but decreased with human disturbance and presence of livestock. In contrast, the probability of tick infestation was inversely associated with the same factors. Individuals with low body condition and males had higher mite loads. However, this pattern was not evident for tick loads. The results from a structural equation model revealed that mites and ticks indirectly and negatively affected each other’s infestation probability through an interaction involving the environmental context. We detected a direct negative association between mites and ticks only when considering estimates of parasite load. This suggests that both mites and ticks could attach to the same host, but once they start to accumulate, only one of them takes advantage. Conclusion The environment of hosts has a strong effect on infestation probabilities and parasite loads of mites and ticks. Autecological differences between mites and ticks, as indicated by their opposing patterns along environmental gradients, may explain the pattern of weak contemporary interspecific competition. Our findings emphasize the importance of including environmental factors and the natural history of each parasite species in studies of host–parasite coevolution.

scholarly journals Warmer temperatures attenuate the classic offspring number and reproductive investment trade-off in the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 20160101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Rutschmann ◽  
Donald B. Miles ◽  
Jean Clobert ◽  
Murielle Richard
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Offspring Number ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common

Life-history traits involved in trade-offs are known to vary with environmental conditions. Here, we evaluate the response of the trade-off between ‘offspring number’ versus ‘energy invested per offspring’ to ambient temperature in 11 natural populations of the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara . We provide evidence at both the intra- and interpopulation levels that the trade-off is reduced with an increase in air temperature. If this effect enhances current individual fitness, it may lead to an accelerated pace of life in warmer environments and could ultimately increase adult mortality. In the context of global warming, our results advocate the need for more studies in natural populations to explore interactions between life-history traits' trade-offs and environmental conditions.

scholarly journals Male Reproductive Cycle in a Population of the Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara (Squamata, Lacertidae) from Southeast of Western Siberia

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 56-67
Author(s):  
Vadim V. Yartsev ◽  
◽  
Valentina N. Kuranova ◽  
Ekaterina N. Absalyamova ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Western Siberia ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common

scholarly journals Chromosome-level assembly of the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) genome

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey A. Yurchenko ◽  
Hans Recknagel ◽  
Kathryn R. Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Multiple Paternity ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Squamate Reptiles ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common ◽  
Chromosome Level

ABSTRACTSquamate reptiles exhibit high variation in their traits and geographical distribution and are therefore fascinating taxa for evolutionary and ecological research. However, high-quality genomic recourses are very limited for this group of species, which inhibits some research efforts. To address this gap, we assembled a high-quality genome of the common lizard Zootoca vivipara (Lacertidae) using a combination of high coverage Illumina (shotgun and mate-pair) and PacBio sequence data, with RNAseq data and genetic linkage maps. The 1.46 Gbp genome assembly has scaffold N50 of 11.52 Mbp with N50 contig size of 220.4 Kbp and only 2.96% gaps. A BUSCO analysis indicates that 97.7% of the single-copy Tetrapoda orthologs were recovered in the assembly. In total 19,829 gene models were annotated in the genome using a combination of three ab initio and homology-based methods. To improve the chromosome-level assembly, we generated a high-density linkage map from wild-caught families and developed a novel analytical pipeline to accommodate multiple paternity and unknown father genotypes. We successfully anchored and oriented almost 90% of the genome on 19 linkage groups. This annotated and oriented chromosome-level reference genome represents a valuable resource to facilitate evolutionary studies in squamate reptiles.

scholarly journals Vukovarska ada - (un)disputed part of the Serbian-Croatian border on the Danube

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-140
Author(s):  
Miloš Petrović
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Similar Model ◽  
Actual Position ◽  
Flood Defense ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Two Sides

The Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia, once (with the prefix "Socialistic") members of the Yugoslav federation, and today neighboring, sovereign, internationally recognized states, have a common border of two hundred and fifty-two kilometers, of which one hundred and thirty-eight kilometers along the Danube. The line of the border on the Danube is the subject of different interpretations by the two sides, which in practice leads to numerous problems, primarily in terms of navigation safety, prevention of migration, poaching, flood defense and other security challenges. One of the points of contention is Vukovarska ada, a river island over which both sides emphasize their sovereignty. In 2011, the local governments of Bac and Vukovar, in order to relax the situation and improve good neighborly relations, signed the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation, and it significantly affected the actual position of Vukovar Ada. In this text, the author analyzes the historical circumstances and the current status of Vukovar Ada in the context of the future overall resolution of the issue of demarcation of Serbia and Croatia on the Danube, as well as in the context of the Bac-Vukovar Agreement, ie the possibility of applying a similar model with appropriate modifications applied to some other disputed part of the common border on the Danube

Reproduction and Morphology of the Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) from Montane Populations in Slovakia

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terézia Horváthová ◽  
Michal Baláž ◽  
David Jandzik
Keyword(s):  
Common Lizard ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common
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