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 in relation to
the ground level and the temperature variation in the hollows did not
influence the choice of oviposition sites. However, cavities with less
variation in humidity were used more frequently. Our findings contribute
to the understanding of selection criteria for oviposition sites in
species that use tree cavities as nests in general. Furthermore, we
discuss the implications of the generalist habits of H. mabouia in the
context of biological invasion, suggesting that the low requirements for
the selection of reproductive sites may constitute a determining factor
for the successful invasion of exotic lizards.

筑巢位点（nesting sites）的选择对于卵生动物（oviparous species）的繁殖成功至关重要。然而，学界目前仍存在关于动物如何选择繁殖位点的认知空白，尤其是那些不自行筑巢、依赖天然穴洞完成产卵（oviposition）的类群，诸多蜥蜴类均属此类。本研究以分布广泛的外来蜥蜴原趾壁虎（Hemidactylus mabouia，有鳞目Squamata，壁虎科Gekkonidae）为研究对象，探究了树洞（tree hollows）的物理结构与微气候条件如何影响其产卵位点（oviposition sites）的选择。我们提出如下研究假说：雌性个体在选择产卵位点时，将主要考量两类因素：(a) 位点的结构特征，该特征与卵遭遇捕食的风险密切相关；以及/或(b) 位点的微气候条件，该条件直接影响卵孵化过程的稳定性。本研究历时一年，每周对53个树洞进行监测，累计记录到69处原趾壁虎的产卵巢。分析结果显示，位点开口宽度、相对于地面的高度以及树洞内部的温度波动，均未对产卵位点的选择产生显著影响；但湿度波动更小的树洞会被更频繁地利用作为产卵位点。本研究结果有助于深化学界对依赖树洞作为筑巢巢穴的类群的产卵位点选择标准的认知。此外，我们还结合生物入侵的研究背景，探讨了原趾壁虎广食性习性的生态学意义，并提出其对繁殖位点的低需求，可能是该外来蜥蜴成功实现入侵的关键决定因素之一。