Zahra Kang

Niche segregation of four sympatric lizards species (Mesalina watsonana, Phrynocephalus scutellatus, Trapelus agilis and Laudakia nupta) was examined at three important niche dimensions (time, space and food) in Kolah-Ghazi National Park. Four habitat types were determined in the study area and within each of them overall 12000 m line transect was traversed. For each observed lizard a number of microhabitat variables were measured within 5 5 m plots. Lizards were studied in terms of activity time, escape tactics, morphometric charachteristics and diet. Overlap in resource use was assessed for three important niche dimensions and compared with overlap obtained through random Monte Carlo permutations. Niche breadth of each of the lizard species was calculated for each niche dimensions using the reciprocal of Simpson’s diversity index. Habitat of Laudakia nupta was spatially separated from the other three lizard species. Microhabitat use was significantly different between Phrynocephalus scutellatus, Mesalina watsonana and Trapelus agilis.   However, the activity time of these lizard species was more or less similar. Body temperature of the lizard species was highly correlated with soil temperature. Escape tactics significantly differed among the four species. Food diet of Laudakia nupta was mainly consisted of a kind of Scrabaeid beetles (Coleoptera), and fruits. Termites, an Argid species of Hymenoptera and plants have constituted the diet of Mesalina watsonana. Ants (Formicidae)   with different sizes recognized as the main food of Trapelus agilis and