Study On Reproductive Ecology Of Multiocellated Racerunner (Eremias Multiocellata)

The study makes an investigation on the multiocellated racerunner’spopulation, the habitat selection, regularity of activities by day inShierliancheng town, Zhungeer Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia from May toAugust,2011. I also collect more than90female multiocellated racerunnersand20male multiocellated racerunners and research the influence ofpredation pressure on the reproductive behavior of multiocellated racerunnersin the laboratory.the results show:1. In the habitat of multiocellated racerunners there also exist theMongolian racerunner and the Steppe toad-headed agama. The coverdegree of vegetation of the area where the multiocellated racerunner live isbetween10%and50%, and the height of vegetation is between30cm and150cm. The soil texture is wind-drift sand whose granules are tiny and soft.2． In the low cover degree of vegetation area, multiocellatedracerunners are active only between9:30and13:00, but in the high coverdegree of vegetation area, they are still observed after13:00.3．The caves of multiocellated racerunners are usually in the earthbags inthe clusters of dester wormwoods, along the root, and the humidity of thecaves is higher. The sands are blew in the air then deposited around thedester wormwoods, and they form the earthbags above the ground about30cm. The caves are also under the bushes growing in the sands, andclose to the stem.4. In the area where the multiocellated racerunners gather together inAugust, they make up53.7%of the total amount of lizards. The proportion ofthe adult and the larva is5.4:1. The density of the multiocellated racerunnersin the area is0.004per square meter.5．In the August, the average body temperature of multiocellated racerunners is38.25℃,and the highest is43℃. The temperature of the grounddirectly influences the body temperature. When the they cannot endure thetemperature, they regulate the body temperature by adjusting the time foractivity, solarization and walking in shadow or the sun. The temperature inthe cave is between27℃and32℃and the fluctuation is not obvious, whichprovides a place for multiocellated racerunners to regulate temperature andhide themselves.The results show:1.The death rate is in direct proportion to the predation pressure offemale multiocellated racerunners, the no-pressure group death rate is7.41%,low pressure group is14.29%,high pressure group is21.43%.Thereproduction rate is in inverse proportion to the predationpressure,no-pressure group is22.22%, low pressure group is21.43%, highpressure group is14.29%.2.The descending order of weight gaining of the multiocellatedracerunners is respectively high pressure group, low pressure group, and theno-pressure group.The weight grows respectively0.874286g,0.791817g,and0.599973g.3.The descending order of the snout vent length gaining of themultiocellated racerunners is respectively the high pressure group, theno-pressure group, and low pressure group.The snout vent length growsrespectively0.2051975cm,0.092308cm,and0.054167cm.4.The descending order of the gaining of the length of tails of themultiocellated racerunners is respectively the low pressure group, the groupwithout any pressure and the high pressure group.The tail length growsrespectively0.143659cm,0.119088cm,and-0.05573cm.5.The descending order of the body temperature of the multiocellatedracerunners is respectively the high pressure group, low pressure group andthe no-pressure group. The body temperature is respectively33.809±0.646℃,33.45±0.626℃,and32.493±0.819℃.6.The descending order of the appetite of the multiocellated racerunners is respectively the low pressure group, the no-pressure group and the highpressure group,respectively0.346231g,0.345684g,0.336156g.7.The descending order of production phases are respectively highpressure group,the no-pressure group and low pressure group.The productionphases are respectively21days,15days,13days.8. The single litter is in direct proportion to the predation pressure offemale multiocellated racerunners,the no-pressure group is1.83cub/litter,thelow pressure group is2.17cub/litter and high pressure group is2.5cub/litter.9.The percentage the birth weight of a cub takes in the female could beshowed in the descending order: the low pressure group is8.2947%, highpressure group is7.8309%,and the no-pressure group is7.7671%.10.The death rate of the cub is in inverse proportion to the predationpressure,the no-pressure group is36.36%,low pressure group is30.77%andhigh pressure group is20%. The descending order of the number of the cubsis respectively the low predation pressure group is13cubs, the no-pressuregroup is11cubs and high predation pressure group is10cubs. Thedescending order of the cub’s average birth weight, the length of the tail, thebody length, and the ratio of weight to body length is respectively the lowpredation pressure group, the no-pressure group and the high predationpressure group. The average birth weight respectively low pressure group is0.526±0.031g,no-predation pressure group is0.519±0.076g, high pressuregroup is0.491±0.126g.The body length is respectively7.244±0.456cm，7.157±0.565cm，7.063±0.487cm.The tail length is respectively4.344±0.343cm,4.257±0.519cm,4.2±0.307cm.The ratio of weight to body length isrespectively0.072590g/cm,0.072381g/cm,0.068821g/cm.The average ofthe cub’s birth snout vent length in the no-predation pressure group is same asthe low predation pressure group, and the average of the both groups is higherthan the high predation pressure group.The snout vent length of no-pressuregroup is2.9±0.082cm, low pressure group is2.9±0.122cm, high pressuregroup is2.863±0.226cm.