Low requirement on the nest site selection influencing the invasion success of House Geckos

The selection of nesting sites is fundamental for the reproductive success of oviparous species. However, there are gaps regarding how animals select their reproductive sites, especially among species that do not build their nests, that is, they use natural cavities for oviposition, as is the case with many lizards. Herein, we evaluated how the physical structure and microclimatic conditions of tree hollows influence the selection of oviposition sites in a widely distributed exotic lizard, Hemidactylus mabouia (Squamata, Gekkonidae). We hypothesized that the choice of oviposition sites by females would consider: (a) structural properties of the sites related to the vulnerability of eggs to predation; and/or (b) microclimatic conditions of the sites associated with the stability of the egg incubation process. Over the course of a year, we monitored the use of 53 tree cavities on a weekly basis, recording a total of 69 H. mabouia nests. The width of the opening of the sites, their height ..., , , # Low requirement on the nest site selection influencing the invasion success of House Geckos

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jq2bvq8m5](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jq2bvq8m5)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset contains the data required to replicate analyses of Andrade & Passos, 2025. Low requirement on the nest site selection influencing the invasion success of House Geckos. We chose 19 trees that showed evidence of reproductive activity by *H. mabouia*, such as eggs or newborns. For each tree, all cavities (treated as nest sites) with eggs were demarcated (with a discreet code of non-toxic ink in the tree trunk), from ground level to 2 m height. We characterized each oviposition site (i.e. cavities in tree trunks) in terms of height from the ground (1 cm precision) and cavity opening in its widest portion (1 mm precision), using a measuring tape and a manual caliper, respectively. We also demarcated potential nest sites (where eggs were not found) in each...