Changes in Competing Populations of Whiptail Lizards (Cnemidophorus) in Southwestern Texas

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Abstract
Population dynamics of whiptail lizards were studied at the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co., Texas, in 1951 and 1952. Some of these studies were repeated in 1962. In the decade between the studies Black Gap recovered from the effects of a severe drought. Changes in the lizard populations consisted of changes in population densities and in diet. Cnemidophorus tigris showed an increased density in the ecological association dominated by it in 1952 and also increased densities in the associations dominated by the other two species of the area in 1952. Cnemidophorus septemvittatus and C. inornatus which equalled tigris in numbers in 1952 are now quite rare. Changes in diet consisted primarily of a higher percentage of caterpillars and a lower percentage of termites in 1962 than in 1952.