The changes in abundance of three species of lizards were determined and compared between grazed and ungrazed desert scrub near La Paz, in the Cape Region, Baja California Sur, Mexico, from April 1992 to March 1993. A total of 54 censuses were taken of these species over two transect systems, one inside and one outside livestock enclosure. Urosaurus nigricaudus were negatively affected by the grazing activities, but Uta stansburiana exhibited an apparently positive effect by such activities. Cnemidophorus hyperythrus population apparently showed no effect by the livestock grazing. The paper discusses the possible relationship between the microhabitat specificity of each species and their population number individuals response.
Baja California Sur; Lizard abundance; Livestock grazing; Mexico
