Habitat preferences of European green lizard Lacerta viridis (Laurenti 1768) in a protected area, Romania

Abstract

Anthropic induced changes in land use modify the habitat and microhabitat conditions for many species. Afforestation and grazing abandonment in steppe-like grasslands alters the characteristics of open natural areas. We aim to understand the habitat preferences of the European Green lizard in a nature reserve affected by both processes, using CORINE land cover and data recorded in the field. The results show that the species prefers sparsely shrubbed areas and edge habitat but avoids the interior of the pine plantation and totally open grassland. On microhabitat scale, most preferred structures were shrubs and logs. CORINE Landover data yields statistically less robust information than the microhabitat features recorded in the field Management measures should aim to increase habitat heterogeneity and to decrease compact afforested areas.