Diet and trophic interactions in an introduced population of the Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758), of central Chile
Exotic species impact native biodiversity, with alien lizards acting as direct predators and indirectly as prey for other alien species (i.e., trophic subsidies). Tarentola mauritanica, a gecko introduced in Chile, lacks ecological data, complicating threat assessment. It is described as eating arthropods and lizards, and as a trophic subsidy for invasive mammals (e.g., cats) in its native range. Here, we evaluate diet and food availability between two seasons (spring and summer) and identify potential and effective predators in Santiago, Chile. The diet was analysed based on stomach contents, food availability from arthropod traps, and predator occurrence, using an integrative approach that combined faunal surveys, literature, citizen science, fieldwork, camera-traps, and faecal analysis. Tarentola mauritanica has an insectivorous diet that varies between the sampled seasons, consuming mainly Lepidoptera in spring and Coleoptera in summer, with no native lizard prey detected. A mismatch between diet dominance and environmental dominance was observed, which is consistent with some degree of selectivity. Twelve potential predators, primarily birds, were identified, and cats were confirmed as probable predators through the integrative approach. The gecko is mainly insectivorous, and seasonal selective foraging could affect arthropods, especially in urban areas with lower prey diversity and abundance. No native lizards were detected in its diet, but monitoring is advised due to its known saurophagous behavior. The data indicate that cats are probable predators; however, the highly localised scope and exploratory nature of the predator component warrants further evaluation. These findings enhance our understanding of community dynamics and the potential trophic impacts of T. mauritanica in Chile.
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