Diet of the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Gambelia silus, on Naval Petroleum Reserves No. 1 and No. 2, Kern County, California
A preliminary inventory of the prey consumed by the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia silus) was conducted by analysis of prey fragments present in scat collected during 1982 and 1984. Information on the diet of this species and a method to collect serial samples without sacrificing individuals were needed before an assessment of the potential effects of Malathion spraying to control the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tennelus) could be conducted. The study indicated that analysis of scats can accurately determine the diet of this endangered species. The diet of blunt-nosed leopard lizards as determined from 16 scats in order of numerical importance was: grasshoppers (orthropterans) (54.5%), bees (hymenopterans) (18.2%), true bugs (hemipterans) (16.7%), beetles (coleopterans) (4.5%), and lizards (4.5%). These results are similar to those reported by Tollestrup (1979) and Montanucci (1965, 1967) in the high proportion of diet consisting of insects. Results confirmed that vertebrates are sometimes consumed by blunt-nosed leopard lizards, as was reported by Montanucci (1967); Tollestrup (1979) found no vertebrate remains in stomachs. The combination of scat analysis and monitoring by radiotelemetry provided techniques which will permit collecting sufficient data to determine whether pest control programs negatively affect blunt-nosed leopard lizards.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Goleta, CA (USA). Santa Barbara Operations
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC08-83NV10282
- OSTI ID:
- 5461833
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-10282-2188; ON: DE88005672
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard on the Naval Petroleum Reserves, Kern County, California
Elk Hills Endangered Species Program: environmental assessment of the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Crotaphytus silus. Phase 2, 1980
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENDANGERED SPECIES
HABITAT
NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
CALIFORNIA
COMPLIANCE
DIET
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
LAND USE
LIZARDS
REGULATIONS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
ANIMALS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
REPTILES
RESERVES
RESOURCES
USA
VERTEBRATES
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)