General Ecology of Patagonian Lizards

Reptiles have physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations that allow them to survive in desert environments, at high altitudes and in cold climates, such as the Patagonia region in southern Argentina. Knowledge of the ecology of Patagonian lizards is limited and fragmentary. The objective of this chapter is to present a synthesis of the current state of knowledge of the ecology of Patagonian lizards with regard to the use of (1) spatial resources (home range, use of microhabitats), (2) temporal resources (daily and seasonal patterns of activity), and (3) trophic resources (diet and nutrition strategies). We also discuss inter- and intra-species interactions, including predation, seed dispersal, parasitism, behavior, and resource partitioning.