Assessing Stress Response in Lizards from Agroecosystems with Different Management Practices

Area of Science:

• Ecotoxicology
• Herpetology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Reptiles play a vital role in agroecosystems, yet the impacts of agricultural intensification and pesticide use on them remain understudied.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing the ecological health of agricultural landscapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of varying agricultural management intensity on antioxidant and haematological biomarkers in Italian wall lizards (Podarcis siculus).
• To evaluate the potential of lizards as non-destructive biomarkers for environmental stressors in agroecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of antioxidant (TBARS) and haematological (heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) biomarkers in Podarcis siculus from three olive groves with different management intensities (conventional vs. organic).
• Analysis of oxidative stress and stress-related physiological responses.

Main Results:

• Lizards from conventional olive groves exhibited induced antioxidant defenses but still experienced oxidative stress, particularly males.
• Males from intensively managed groves showed significantly higher TBARS levels (58%-133%) compared to other sites.
• Females from intensively managed groves displayed elevated heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (5.3 to 14.8-fold), indicating increased physiological stress.

Conclusions:

• Agricultural intensification and associated pesticide use induce significant oxidative and haematological stress in Italian wall lizards.
• Podarcis siculus can serve as effective, non-destructive biomarkers for monitoring environmental stressors in agricultural ecosystems.
• Findings highlight the need for sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate negative impacts on reptile populations.