title: Microhabitat shifts of lizards under different contexts of sympatry: a case study with South American Liolaemus.
abstract: The Iguanid lizard Liolaemus tenuis is shown to be a rock and trunk dweller (apparently preferring perches between 0-30 cm height) in a central Chilean locality where it coexists with a single ground-dwelling congener. In its southern distributional ranges L. tenuis is sympatric with another tree-dweller, L. pictus. Habitat shift is demonstrated in this latter case by L. tenuis concentrating on tree trunks, and at modal heights 30-60 cm. Liolaemus pictus occupies lower (apparently more favorable) perches, actively interferring with its congener.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Biología Ambiental, Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Medel
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Biología Ambiental, Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marquet
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Biología Ambiental, Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Jaksić
keywords: Chile; Habitat shift; Iguanidae; Interference competition; Liolaemus; South America