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<p>Understanding how urbanisation shapes animal behaviour and habitat use is critical for biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes. We investigated the effects of sex, environmental conditions, and habitat structure on micro-habitat use patterns, basking behaviour, and activity patterns of the rainbow lizard (<i>Agama agama</i>) in a semi-urban environment in southern Nigeria. A total of 203 sightings were recorded across farms, residential areas, and plantations. Micro-habitat use was strongly non-random, with individuals more frequently occupying elevated, anthropogenic structures. Males were more frequently associated with exposed substrates, whereas females predominantly used sheltered or vegetated micro-habitats, indicating sex-specific spatial strategies. Basking was the dominant behaviour across all contexts and increased significantly with environmental temperature. Binomial modelling revealed that males had a higher probability of basking than females, with differences becoming more pronounced at higher temperatures. Weather conditions modulated this relationship, with reduced basking under cloudy conditions, although temperature remained a key predictor. In contrast, macro-habitat type had a limited direct influence on behaviour compared to fine-scale habitat features. Activity budgets further highlighted sex- and environment-dependent behavioural variation, with males engaging more in basking and territorial behaviours, while females showed higher frequencies of resting and sheltering. These findings emphasise the importance of micro-habitat structure and sex-specific strategies in shaping urban reptile ecology. Incorporating structural heterogeneity into urban planning may enhance habitat suitability and promote ecological resilience in urban ecosystems.</p>

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Micro-habitat structure and environmental context of semi-urban landscapes shape sex-specific habitat use and basking behaviour in African rainbow lizards

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月1日

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  • Ogaga Dean Efenakpo,
  • Abigail Ogogome Okoro,
  • Daniel Etim Jacob,
  • Fabio Petrozzi,
  • Luca Luiselli

摘要

Understanding how urbanisation shapes animal behaviour and habitat use is critical for biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes. We investigated the effects of sex, environmental conditions, and habitat structure on micro-habitat use patterns, basking behaviour, and activity patterns of the rainbow lizard (Agama agama) in a semi-urban environment in southern Nigeria. A total of 203 sightings were recorded across farms, residential areas, and plantations. Micro-habitat use was strongly non-random, with individuals more frequently occupying elevated, anthropogenic structures. Males were more frequently associated with exposed substrates, whereas females predominantly used sheltered or vegetated micro-habitats, indicating sex-specific spatial strategies. Basking was the dominant behaviour across all contexts and increased significantly with environmental temperature. Binomial modelling revealed that males had a higher probability of basking than females, with differences becoming more pronounced at higher temperatures. Weather conditions modulated this relationship, with reduced basking under cloudy conditions, although temperature remained a key predictor. In contrast, macro-habitat type had a limited direct influence on behaviour compared to fine-scale habitat features. Activity budgets further highlighted sex- and environment-dependent behavioural variation, with males engaging more in basking and territorial behaviours, while females showed higher frequencies of resting and sheltering. These findings emphasise the importance of micro-habitat structure and sex-specific strategies in shaping urban reptile ecology. Incorporating structural heterogeneity into urban planning may enhance habitat suitability and promote ecological resilience in urban ecosystems.