Mid‐Domain Effect and Wooded Habitat Shape Mediterranean Reptile Communities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although the spatial mechanisms underlying global biodiversity patterns remain incompletely resolved, the mid‐domain effect (MDE) proposes that geometric constraints alone can generate the frequently observed hump‐shaped relationship between species richness and elevation. Reptiles, due to their wide eco‐physiological diversity and varied ecological requirements, provide an ideal model for examining patterns of taxonomic richness, relative abundance, and community structure across spatial and temporal scales. Their assemblages respond sensitively to fine‐scale habitat characteristics, such as vegetation structure and microtopography, as well as broader landscape features, including elevational gradients, land‐use configuration, and seasonal or interannual environmental variability. We assessed species richness, relative biomass, and community metrics across 26 protected areas in Central Italy, explicitly testing the influences of elevation and land use. In total, 13,045 individuals were recorded, comprising eight snake species ( n = 353), eight lizard species ( n = 12,660), and two chelonian species ( n = 32). Our findings revealed a pronounced hump‐shaped richness pattern and two distinct species clusters differing in their responses to woodland cover. Integrating MDE with woodland presence–absence provided the most robust explanatory framework, offering practical insights for regional conservation planning and habitat management strategies.