Aversive hunting and sight frequency ecology of Beaded lizards (Squamata: Helodermatidae)

Abstract

Hunting is one of the main threats to biodiversity due to its synergistic effect with other anthropogenicactivities. Aversive hunting is a radical measure aimed at species considered threats to human health orgoods. This practice has proved high impacts on wildlife. We quantified sighting and hunting of Beadedlizards and analyzed its relation with habitat disturbance through semi-structured interviews in sevenlocalities. Sighting and hunting relation with habitat was analyzed individually using correlation testsand globally using discriminant function analysis. Hunting frequency is closed to 50% and justified on thepotential direct threat of these species. Habitat structure explained sighting frequency but not hunting.Our study exposes that impact on Beaded lizards due to aversive hunting is high and that an educationplan is required to decrease it; we also show the importance of habitat structure for the conservation ofBeaded lizards