With United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) starting today in Cali, I thought a fitting way to mark Reptile Appreciation Day would be to highlight the blue anole (https://mongabay.cc/4Ycrmm), endemic to the island of Gorgona, located off the Pacific coast of Colombia, not far from Cali. Gorgona, long noted for its biodiversity, hosts this vibrant creature, but the significance of reptiles extends well beyond their individual beauty.
Reptiles provide key ecosystem services, helping to regulate, sustain, and support a variety of ecological processes. For instance, American alligators dig holes to stay cool and hunt, but these serve as vital refuges for other animals during dry seasons, creating a rare aquatic habitat for species like turtles and fish when water is scarce.
Reptiles also play an indispensable role in food webs, acting as both predators and prey. Many species of reptiles, from snakes to lizards, help control populations of small mammals, birds, insects, and other reptiles, maintaining ecological balance. For example, caimans in South America regulate populations of aquatic mollusks and fish, preventing the spread of parasites and reducing livestock attacks by aggressive fish species. At the same time, reptiles themselves are key prey for birds, mammals, and other larger predators, contributing to the flow of energy through ecosystems. Without reptiles, the intricate connections that keep ecosystems stable would weaken, with cascading effects throughout the food chain.
Reptiles’ importance extends to less visible roles, such as pollination and seed dispersal. On islands like Mauritius, lizards have become key pollinators, replacing birds and insects in some cases. The blue-tailed day gecko on Mauritius pollinates Trochetia blackburniana (https://mongabay.cc/gjaLpG), forestalling the plant’s extinction. These interactions highlight the often-overlooked complexity of reptile-plant relationships, particularly in island ecosystems where reptiles may fill ecological niches left vacant by other species.
In the agricultural realm, reptiles act as biological controls, preying on harmful insects and reducing the need for chemical pest management. The ecological and economic advantages of their presence are undeniable.
Reptiles also contribute to nutrient cycling. In Puerto Rico, the coqui frog enhances forest nutrient availability through waste deposits, contributing to nutrient recycling in post-disturbance ecosystems.
So, as we consider the ecological roles of reptiles today, it’s worth noting that while they don’t ask for recognition, their contributions are buried deep within the very foundations of functioning ecosystems—much like the alligator’s well-timed hole.
🔬Anyelet Valencia-Aguilar, Angela M. Cortés-Gómez and César Augusto Ruiz-Agudelo. Ecosystem services provided by amphibians and reptiles in Neotropical ecosystems. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management. Volume 9, 2013 – Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2013.821168
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Reptile appreciation day
