ISSN: 2639-216X
Authors: Ruiz-García N, Arcos-García JL*, Villa-Hernández JM, López-Pozos R, Santiago-Romero H, Arroyo LJ and De Labra-Hernández MA
Monitoring the release of a living being into a habitat is essential in order to generate information about the animal’s adaptation to the natural environment. The aim of the present study was to monitor the behavior of the black iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata), undergoing the process of release into 1) tropical deciduous forests and 2) an agroforestry ecosystem. The study was carried out at the CECOREI-UMAR facilities, where 24 females in different states of the life cycle: hatchling, juvenile and adult were kept. The transportation and the release of the iguanas were carried out in four periods of 15 days. Behavioral variables were measured and evaluated through a completely randomized block design with a 2x3 factorial arrangement, with four time periods. There was an effect (P<0.0001) related to the age of the iguanas. The hatchlings and adults were seen to recognize predators and flee from them (P<0.05). In conclusion, the age of iguanas is a factor that can counteract the adaptation ability of the species when released into environments such as tropical deciduous forest or an agroforestry ecosystem.
Keywords: Reptiles; Ctenosaura pectinata; Release Iguana; Monitoring; Endangered Iguana
