🦎 The another gecko Tarentola mauritanica is rapidly expanding its range on the Île du Levant (France). This species competes with other small gecko species, in particular Euleptes europaea and Hemidactylus turcicus, which may be displaced if they fail to find suitable refuges that exclude Tarentola mauritanica. 

🦎As part of compensatory measures, including habitat creation and a translocation plan for Euleptes europaea, an anti-predator refuge wall was created for this species, which also benefits young Hemidactylus turcicus. The 20-metre-long artificial wall features 200 numbered cracks of standardized sizes (between 0.4 and 0.7 mm) which only Euleptes europaea and young Hemidactylus turcicus can penetrate and which cannot be extirpated by larger competing reptiles. Shelters around the low wall that could provide refuge for larger lizard species were meticulously removed from the surrounding area to make way for vegetation that would provide temporary refuge and food for these small, endangered gecko species. 

🦎A 12-month follow-up after translocation of 10 Euleptes europaea into the low wall enabled us to measure the species' fidelity, as well as the appearance of juveniles, including those of Hemidactylus turcicus. Video surveillance showed that adult Hemidactylus turcicus tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate the wall, but that Euleptes europaea were anxious and seemed in a hurry to find refuge in the cracks when large individuals of Hemidactylus turcicus arrived.

🦎During the 12 months of monitoring, a continuous increase in numbers was measured, with the presence of Euleptes europaea adults and the colonization of numerous juveniles of both species. 

🦎Although there is currently too little feedback on the effectiveness of environmental measures in general, the success of the operation here is unequivocal and since the article was written, the number of geckos in 2024 in the experimental wall has continued to increase.

In the photo, the "trouble maker" Tarentola mauritanica, France

If you want to see this wall and know more details I invite you here:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378529812_Construction_of_a_refuge_wall_with_crevices_to_protect_European_leaf-toed_geckos_Euleptes_europaea_and_young_Turkish_geckos_Hemidactylus_turcicus_on_the_Ile_du_Levant_France

Deso, G., Reynier, T. (2024). Construction of a refuge wall with crevices to protect European leaf-toed geckos Euleptes europaea and young Turkish geckos Hemidactylus turcicus on the Ile du Levant, France. Herpetol. Bull. 167: 20-24. 

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#gecko #nature #conservation #herpetology #Tarentolamauritanica #Eulepteseuropaea #Hemidactylusturcicus