This thesis presents the analysis of the state of knowledge of European lizards of the genus Podarcis. It is the most numerous species of the genus Podarcis of the family Lacertidae in Europe and it belongs to the most important representative of the Mediterranean herpetofauna. The aim of this thesis was to make a quantitative analysis of publication activities, analysis of topics and assessment of context biological properties of a number of publications. The data was obtained from a literary database ?Web of Science? and ?Google Scholar?. The number of publications in each year over the period was relatively stable. The relationship of dependence between size area and number of publications for each species affected the four most dominant species and this relationship does not exist for the species with small range. More endangered species had a small number of publications. Most publications were in the field of ecology.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present study aims to determine the phylogenetic relationships among the sand lizards, Pedioplanis. In addition, a single mitochondrial gene is used to investigate the geographic genetic structure of the widey distributed P. burchelli. With 11 species, Pedioplanis is the most speciose genus among the southern African genera of the family Lacertidae. All the species are restricted to the subcontinent with the exception of three (P. namaquensis, P. undata and P. benguellensis), which extend their range northwards into Angola. A total of 2200 nucleotide positions derived from two mitochondrial markers (ND2 and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear gene (RAG-1) are used to determine the phylogenetic relationships among ten of the eleven Pedioplanis species. The first well resolved gene tree for the genus, drawn from 100 individuals, is presented and this is largely congruent with a phylogeny derived from morphology. Contrary to some previous suggestions, Pedioplanis forms a monophyletic assemblage with Heliobolus and Nucras. The genus Pedioplanis is monophyletic with P. burchelli/P. laticeps forming a sister clade to all the remaining congeners. Two distinct geographic lineages can be identified within the widespread P. namaquensis; one occurs in Namibia, while the other occurs in South Africa. The “P. undata” species complex is monophyletic, but one of its constituent species, P. inornata, is paraphyletic. Relationships among the subspecies of P. lineoocellata are much more complex than previously documented. An isolated population previously assigned to P. l. pulchella is paraphyletic and sister to the three named subspecies. The phylogeny identifies two biogeographical groupings that probably diverged during the mid-Miocene. The development of the Benguella Current could have initiated isolation mechanisms associated with changes in habitat that could have generated barriers and played a role in the evolution of this group. At the lower taxonomic level, the mtDNA phylogeographic structure of the wide spread P. burchelli in South Africa reveal at least six distinct clades that are geographically partitioned. The first one is restricted to the eastern mountains along the Great Escarpment (GE). The next three are found along the Cape Fold Mountains (CFM): the north-west CFM, central CFM and eastern CFM. The fifth one shares samples from central CFM and GE. The last clade is restricted to the eastern central mountains of the GE. These six geographic groupings are genetically divergent from each other and they started separating in the early Pliocene period. Phylogeographic studies on other taxa in the region have found different levels of genetic structuring among or within taxa. The fact that P. burchelli is restricted to high altitude areas could have resulted in limited dispersal and consequently contributed to its geographic structure. However, the exact cause of the pattern obtained is not readily apparent. Habitat fragmentation in the past is probably one of the most influential factors shaping the genetic distribution of the species across South Africa. The inclusion of nuclear markers will shed more light on the evolutionary history of P. burchelli in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige studie stel ten doel om ‘n filogenie daar te stel vir die Sand akkedisse, Pedioplanis. ‘n Enkele mitochondriale geen is ook gebruik om die geografiese genetiese struktuur van die wydverspreide P. burchelli vas te stel. Met 11 spesies is Pedioplanis die mees spesieryke genus onder die suidelike Afrika genera wat aan die Lacertidae familie behoort. Al die spesies is beperk tot die subkontinent met die uitsondering van drie (P. namaquensis, P. undata en P. benguellensis), wat ‘n uitgebreide verspreiding het noordwaarts tot in Angola. ‘n Totaal van 2200 nukleotied posisies wat afkomstig is van twee mitochondriale merkers (ND2 en 16S rRNA) en een nukluêre geen (RAG-1) is gebruik om die filogenetiese verwantskappe tussen 10 van die 11 Pedioplanis spesies vas te stel. Die eerste goed geondersteunde geen boom vir die genus, gebasseer op 100 individue, is verkry en dit is meestal ooreenstemmend met ‘n filogenie gebasseer op morfologie. In teenstelling met sekere voorstelle van die verlede vorm Pedioplanis ‘n monofiletiese groep tesame met Heliobolus en Nucras. Die genus Pedioplanis is monofileties met P. burchelli/P. laticeps wat ‘n suster groep vorm van al die oorblywende lede van die genus. Twee herkenbare geografiese lyne kan geidentifiseer word in die wydverspreide P. namaquensis; een kom in Namibia voor, terwyl die ander een in Suid Afrika voorkom. Die “P. undata” spesies kompleks is monofileties, maar een van die spesies wat deel uitmaak van die groep, P. inornata, is parafileties. Verwantskappe tussen die subspesies van P. lineoocellata is meer kompleks as wat aanvanklik aanvaar is. ‘n Geisoleerde bevolkimg wat voorheen toegesê is aan P. l. pulchella is parafileties en verteenwoordig ‘n suster groep van die benaamde subspesies. Die filogenie identifiseer twee biogeografiese groeperings wat moontlik gedivergeer het gedurende die middel-Miocene. Die ontwikkeling van die Benguella stroom het dalk versperrings geinisiëer as gevolg van die gesamentlike veranderinge in habitat wat dalk ook ‘n rol gespeel het in die evolusie van die groep. Op die laer taksonomiese vlak het die mtDNA filogeografiese struktuur van die wydverspreide P. burchelli in Suid Afrika ten minste ses groepe aangetoon wat geografies van mekaar geskei is. Die eerste een is beperk tot die oostelike berge wat aan die Groot Eskarpement (GE) behoort. Die volgende drie word gevind in die Kaapse Vouberge (KVB): die noord-westelike KVB, sentrale KVB en oostelike KVB. Die vyfde een deel eksemplare van beide die GE en die KVB. Die laaste groep is beperk tot die oostelike en sentrale berge van die GE. Hierdie ses geografiese groepe is geneties geskei van mekaar en hulle het begin om apart te ontwikkel gedurende die vroë Pliocene periode. Ander filogeografiese studies in die area het verskillende vlakke van genetiese struktuur vertoon tussen en binne taksa. Die feit dat P. burchelli beperk is tot hoogliggende dele kon moontlik bygedrae het tot die geografiese struktuur. Die presiese oorsaak van die patroon wat verkry is, is nie ooglopend nie. Habitat fragmentasie in die verlede is moontlik een van die mees invloedrykste faktore wat die genetiese verspreiding van die spesie in Suid Afrika beinvloed het. Die insluiting van nukluêre merkers sal meer lig warp op die evolusionêre geskiedenis van P. burchelli in Suid Afrika.

Knowledge of the thermal ecology of a species can improve model predictions for temperature-induced population collapse, which in light of climate change is increasingly important for species with limited distributions. Here, we use a multi-faceted approach to quantify and integrate the thermal ecology, properties of the thermal habitat, and past and present distribution of the diurnal, xeric-adapted, and active-foraging Namibian lizard Pedioplanis husabensis (Sauria: Lacertidae) to model its local extinction risk under future climate change scenarios. We asked whether climatic conditions in various regions of its range are already so extreme that local extirpations of P. husabensis have already occurred, or whether this micro-endemic species is adapted to these extreme conditions and uses behavior to mitigate the environmental challenges. To address this, we collected thermoregulation and climate data at a micro-scale level and combined it with micro-and macroclimate data across the species' range to model extinction risk. We found that P. husabensis inhabits a thermally harsh environment, but also has high thermal preference. In cooler parts of its range, individuals are capable of leaving thermally favorable conditions-based on the species' thermal preference-unused during the day, probably to maintain low metabolic rates. Furthermore, during the summer, we observed that individuals regulate at body temperatures below the species' high thermal preference to avoid body temperatures approaching the critical thermal maximum. We find that populations of this species are currently persisting even at the hottest localities within the species' geographic distribution. We found no evidence of range shifts since the 1960s despite a documented increase in air temperatures. Nevertheless, P. husabensis only has a small safety margin between the upper limit of its thermal preference and the critical thermal maximum and might undergo range reductions in the near future under even the most moderate climate change scenarios.