Spatial Distribution Pattern of the Steppe Toad-headed Lizard (Phrynocephalus frontalis) and Its Influencing Factors

Spatial distribution patterns are associated with life history and behavioral adaptations of animals. For studying the spatial distribution pattern of the steppe toad-headed lizard (Phrynocephalus frontalis) and its influencing factors, we conducted experiments in Hunshandake Sandy Land in Inner Mongolia, China in July 2009. By calculating the clustered indices, we found that the lizard was aggregately distributed when the sampling quadrat was smaller than 10 m x 10 m, and uniformly distributed when it was greater than 10 m x 10 m. The Nearest Neighbor Rule showed a clustering distribution pattern for P frontalis and the distribution pattern was quadrat-sampling dependent. Furthermore, the cluster was determined by environmental factors when the sampling quadrat was smaller than 20 m x 20 m, but it was determined by both environmental factors and characteristics of the lizard when it was larger than 20 m x 20 m. Our results suggested that the steppe toad-headed lizards tended to aggregate into suitable habitat patches in desert areas. Additionally, we discussed that the lizard aggregation could be potentially used as an indictor of movement of sand dunes.