Aspidoscelis, AT

MANNING, GLENN J., COLE, CHARLES J., DESSAUER, HERBERT C. & WALKER, JAMES M., 2005, Hybridization Between Parthenogenetic Lizards (Aspidoscelis neomexicana) and Gonochoristic Lizards (Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis) in New Mexico: Ecological, Morphological, Cytological, and Molecular Context, American Museum Novitates 3492 (1), pp. 1-56 : 15-20

ASPIDOSCELIS AT SITE CL­2*

(SOUTH RECREATION AREA)

The first report of A. neomexicana south of the Canadian River and Conchas Lake was

TABLE 4 Aspidoscelis Lizards Observed and Collected at Conchas Lake, CL­5* (East of Conchas Lake Levee), at Both Ecological Components in the Vicinity of 2–3 km South of Conchas Dam, or East of the South End of the Levee, Along New Mexico Highway 129, 1258–1274 m, San Miguel County, New Mexico, by JMW and J.E. Cordes (1988) and GJM and J.T. Briggler (2000–2002)

based on specimen OMNH 35110 collected ‘‘ca. 1.25 km SSE of the town of Conchas [5 Hooverville]’’ in 1979 ( Leuck et al. 1981). This record is within the area designated as site CL­2* ( Walker et al., 1992), which we here redefine to include five ecological components located in and near the South Recreation Area (tables 1, 2, 5; fig. 1; appendix 5).

Seven visits to CL­2C*, the South Campground component at CL­2* ( fig. 5), by CJC in 1976–1990 resulted in collection of numerous specimens of A. sexlineata viridis , A. tesselata C, and A. tesselata D. However , it was not until the last visit to CL­2C* in 1990 that an individual of A. neomexicana was obtained by CJC (appendix 5). More recently, GJM found that A. neomexicana is now the most abundant species at the part of CL­2C* that is along a row of trees bordered by large blocks of rock among grasses and other herbaceous vegetation ( fig. 5). In five out of eight visits in 2000–2003, he obtained 14 A. neomexicana , six A. sexlineata viridis , two A. exsanguis , two A. tesselata C, two A. tesselata D, and one male and two female hybrids of A. neomexicana 3 A. sexlineata viridis (appendix 5). We inferred that hybrid­

TABLE 5 Aspidoscelis Lizards Observed and Collected at Conchas Lake, CL­2* (South Recreation Area), at All Ecological Components in and Near the South Recreation Area, 1279–1310 m, San Miguel County, New Mexico, by CJC and C.R. Townsend (1976, 1978, 1981, 1990) and GJM and J.T. Briggler (2000–2003)

ization between these species occurred as they utilized the base of the rock­line for foraging, burrowing, and escape, behaviors that would presumably result in many interspecific encounters.

Immediately west of the paved road leading to the South Campground is CL­2H*, the Hill component of CL­2*, consisting of a hilltop and an east­facing hillside with modified mesquite and juniper grassland (including many clumps of yucca) in sandy soil ( fig. 6 ). In 2000–2003, GJM found numerous A. neomexicana and a few A. sexlineata viridis on the hillside, as well as three male and four female hybrids of A. neomexicana 3 A. sexlineata viridis . Hybrids constituted 47.1% of the 17 Aspidoscelis collected on the hillside, including the only four lizards collected on 6 June 2002 (appendix 5). In four visits to CL­2H*, GJM also collected nine A. neomexicana and one A. sexlineata viridis .

Approximately 1 km northwest of the South Campground is CL­2J*, the Juniper Campground component of CL­2*, consisting of fragmented sandy mesquite and juniper grassland in a small heavily used recreation area ( fig. 6 ). Clearly, A. neomexicana was much more abundant than A. sexlineata viridis in this component from which two hybrid males, including AMNH 151739 used in karyotypic and electrophoretic analyses, were collected on 7 June 2002. In three out of six visits to this component in 2001–2003, GJM also collected 20 A. neomexicana , two A. sexlineata viridis , six A. tesselata C, and one A. tesselata D.

The Lodge component (CL­2L*) is slightly elevated above the Juniper Campground component of CL­2*, and it consisted of a mowed grass­forbs association. Most of the lizards present at CL­2L* were A. neomexicana . In four visits to this component in 2000, 2001, and 2003, GJM also collected four A. neomexicana , two A. sexlineata viridis , one A. exsanguis , two A. tesselata C, one A. tesselata D, and one female hybrid A. neomexicana 3 A. sexlineata viridis .

Figures

Fig. 6. An example of extreme habitat degradation resulting from the activities of man south of Conchas Lake in South Recreation Area (CL­2*), San Miguel County, New Mexico. Looking northeast across the Juniper Campground Component (CL­2J*) from which individuals of Aspidoscelis neomexicana, A. tesselata C and D, A. exsanguis, A. sexlineata viridis, and A. neomexicana 3 A. sexlineata viridis (including AMNH R­151739 used in karyotypic and electrophoretic analyses in this study) have been collected.