We examined the dietary diversity and food intake of Phrynocephalus frontalis, compared the difference of insect diversity in the natural habitats with different lizard densities, and discussed the potential role of t...We examined the dietary diversity and food intake of Phrynocephalus frontalis, compared the difference of insect diversity in the natural habitats with different lizard densities, and discussed the potential role of this lizard in the desert ecosystem. The results show that： （1） arthropodans of the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera were major dietary components of P. frontalis; （2） coleoptera larvae always formed the predominant component of lizard diets; （3） dietary diversities of P. frontalis were not significantly different between summer and autumn or between the two sexes; （4） the similarity in trophic niches between seasons was 0.756, whereas the similarity in trophic niches between sexes was 0.994; （5） stomach content weight of lizards varied significantly among different seasons, but there was no significant difference in stomach content weight between sexes; （6） insect diversity differed significantly among the groups of the habitat with different degrees of lizard density, and the habitat with moderate lizards density had the highest insect diversity. We infer that P. frontalis prey mainly on insects and change their diet and food intake with season; males and females consumed similar preys in types and weights. As an important predator, P. frontalis could affect the insect community in the arid ecosystem of Hunshandak Desert on the Mongolian Plateau.展开更多
干旱、半干旱区约占全球陆地表面的41%（Reynolds et al.,2007）,是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分。但是,由于干旱荒漠地区土壤水分含量低,而且降水稀少,因此不能支撑大面积、连续分布的植被（Schulze et al.,2005）,植物群落通常较为单一...干旱、半干旱区约占全球陆地表面的41%（Reynolds et al.,2007）,是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分。但是,由于干旱荒漠地区土壤水分含量低,而且降水稀少,因此不能支撑大面积、连续分布的植被（Schulze et al.,2005）,植物群落通常较为单一,不同类型灌木的斑块状分布格局是荒漠区植被的显著特征（Whitford,2002）。昆虫多样性是全球生物多样性的重要组成部分（Lewinsohn et al.,2008）,而其中的荒漠昆虫是随着荒漠的出现,适应环境改变演化而来的一支特殊旱生昆虫类群（黄人鑫等,2005）,是荒漠生态系统的重要组成部分。展开更多
基金the financial support of the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-EW-J-2)the Special Program for Key Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2013FY110300)
文摘We examined the dietary diversity and food intake of Phrynocephalus frontalis, compared the difference of insect diversity in the natural habitats with different lizard densities, and discussed the potential role of this lizard in the desert ecosystem. The results show that： （1） arthropodans of the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera were major dietary components of P. frontalis; （2） coleoptera larvae always formed the predominant component of lizard diets; （3） dietary diversities of P. frontalis were not significantly different between summer and autumn or between the two sexes; （4） the similarity in trophic niches between seasons was 0.756, whereas the similarity in trophic niches between sexes was 0.994; （5） stomach content weight of lizards varied significantly among different seasons, but there was no significant difference in stomach content weight between sexes; （6） insect diversity differed significantly among the groups of the habitat with different degrees of lizard density, and the habitat with moderate lizards density had the highest insect diversity. We infer that P. frontalis prey mainly on insects and change their diet and food intake with season; males and females consumed similar preys in types and weights. As an important predator, P. frontalis could affect the insect community in the arid ecosystem of Hunshandak Desert on the Mongolian Plateau.
文摘干旱、半干旱区约占全球陆地表面的41%（Reynolds et al.,2007）,是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分。但是,由于干旱荒漠地区土壤水分含量低,而且降水稀少,因此不能支撑大面积、连续分布的植被（Schulze et al.,2005）,植物群落通常较为单一,不同类型灌木的斑块状分布格局是荒漠区植被的显著特征（Whitford,2002）。昆虫多样性是全球生物多样性的重要组成部分（Lewinsohn et al.,2008）,而其中的荒漠昆虫是随着荒漠的出现,适应环境改变演化而来的一支特殊旱生昆虫类群（黄人鑫等,2005）,是荒漠生态系统的重要组成部分。
