Abstract
Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is one way to achieve niche differentiation. In the present study, habitat suitability of Lacerta media Lantz & Cyrén, 1920 and Lacerta strigata Eichwald, 1831 was evaluated and the ecological niche spaces were evaluated between the two species. Based on the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) result, northwestern and western Iran has been predicted as the most suitable for L. media and the southern Caspian Sea region has been predicted as suitable for L. strigata presence. Also there are several records of L. strigata presence in East Azarbaijan and Fars provinces and L. media presence in Alborz, Markazi and Esfahan provinces that are currently situated outside the suitable predicted region. Maximum temperature of the coldest month and precipitation of the warmest quarter with contribution more than 68% and 76% for L. media and L. strigata, respectively, were distinguished as the key contributing factors for the presence of both species. However, ecological niche overlap was calculated between the two species and that the niches were significantly different.
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I thank from Kamelia Algiers who reviewed the early draft of manuscript and added some valuable comments on it.
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Heidari, N. Ecological niche differentiation between Lacerta media and Lacerta strigata (Sauria: Lacertidae) in Iran. Biologia 76, 901–905 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00601-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00601-z