الفهرس 
ِAcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The present study was carried out to determine the effect of climatic factors on the biodiversity, activity and parasitic infection of some burrowing t reptiles (Genus Acanthodactylus) inhabiting at the different territories of the Egyptian desert, where reptile species diversity in arid lands is influenced by a variety of abiotic (Air, soil temperature at different depths and soil moisture) and anthropogenic factors (food and water availability). The present study aimed also to determine the effect of human impacts on biodiversity, I distribution and activity of these reptiles. A total of 875 living reptiles belonging to family Lacertidae order Squamata were recorded from 5-different territories in the Egyptian deserts; ^feu-Rawash and El-Saliba (El-Giza province), Wadi El-Natroun (El-Behira ■province), Balteem and Borg El-Borolos (Kafr El-Sheikh province). The different climatic factors of the studied territories were recorded to scrutinize the microhabitats of Acanthodactylus sp. in order to inspect the [relationship between the ecological factors and the parasitic abundance, distribution and percentage of infection with Haemogregarines. The research was divided into: P~ Effect of climatic factors on the collected lizards: The Acanthodactylus lizards were divided into three species; vthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus scutellatus and Acanthodactylus rdalis. The highest number (313) recorded in Borg El-Borolos territory and lowest one was (90) in Wadi El-Natroun regions, while the highest «imber (237) was during spring and the lowest (185) was during autumn. [ During the collection of lizards from their microhabitats (surface, hcrrow^ and under shrubs), the highest average number (15±0.4) during spring from under shrubs and the lowest (1.3±0.4) during winter. The highest ■ arerage from their burrows was 13±0.4 recorded during winter and the lowest Iwas (0) recorded during summer, while the highest average number of Summary and Conclusion tected lizards from the surface was (8.7±0.2) recorded during spring and lowest one was (0) recorded during summer. \ The seasonal variations of the microhabitats of the studied lizards aerred to the fluctuation in the differences among the collected numbers of nrds from the three microhabitats (surface, burrows and under shrubs) at r different territories. There are highly significant correlations between soil moisture and the ■ numbers of collected lizards from the surface and under shrubs .678 & 0.689). Air temperatures were reported a negatively correlation ■lie average of collected lizards from the surface (r =-0.460). Soil surface lure, 10, 20 & 40cm were recorded a negatively correlation with the :e of collected ones from the burrows (r —0.473, -0.465, -0.535 & M5), respectively. Regional and seasonal variation between the collected lizards: • Air temperature: • The highest and lowest air temperature were (32.3±0.9 & 18.6±1.1°C) Abu-Rawash area during summer and winter, respectively, while in El-the highest and lowest air temperatures were (34.3±0.2 & 25±0.3°C) bd during summer and autumn, respectively, whereas in Wadi El-area, the maximum and minimum were (32.6±0.5 & 24.8±0.4°C) Jed during (Summer-spring) and winter, respectively. In Balteem t. the maximum ancl minimum were (31.8±0.3 & 15.7±0.2°C) recorded JL summer and winter respectively, whereas in Borg El-Borolos territory, highest and lowest one were (30.1±0.4 & 15.7±0.3°C) recorded during T and autumn, respectively. • Soil moisture: m The highest soil moisture in Abu-Rawash, El-Saliba, Wadi El-Natroun, ■tceem and Borg El-Borolos territories were (3.3±0.2, 3.3±0.2, 7±0.4, 20±2 ■2±3gm%) recorded during winter, respectively, while the lowest one were U±0.02, 0.6±0.09, 3.3±0.2, 12.3±0.7 & 15.7±2gm%) recorded during aer, respectively. Soil temperature at different depths: The maximum and minimum soil surface and burrow temperatures at I, 20 & 40cm depths in Abu-Rawash area were (50.9±0.7, 24.5±0.4°C), L4±0.4, 17.2±0.3°C), (35.5±0.2, 16.1±0.4°C) & (36.2±0.3 & 17.3±0.6°C) tded during summer and winter, respectively. The maximum and minimum soil surface and burrow temperatures at & 20cm in El-Salibst regions were (51.2±1, 36.5±1.7°C), (36.9±0.3, L4°C) & (34.3±0.2, 23±0.7°C) recorded during summer and autumn, fctively, while soil temperature at 40cm, the highest and lowest were 15.6±0.2 & 21±1°C) recorded during summer and winter. In Wadi El-Natroun area, the highest and lowest soil surface jterrerature was (47.4±2 & 29.5±1.4°C) recorded during spring and winter, tively, while the maximum and minimum soil temperature at 10cm twere (33.3=tl.5 & 19.9±0.4°C) recorded during summer and autumn, jvely. The maximum and minimum soil temperature at 20 & 40cm were (30.4±1.4 & 18.6±0.3°C) & (30±1 & 16.8±0.3°C) recorded ; summer and winter, respectively. In Balteem area, the maximum and minimum soiJ surface and burrow ore at 10, 20 & 40cm were (42±1.4 & 14.4±0.7°C), (34.4±1.1, |4°C), (31.4=4=1, 15.4±0.4°C) & (29.3±1.1, 17.2±0.7°C) recorded during rand autumn, respectively. fa Borg El-Borolos area, the maximum and minimum soil surface, 10, k 40cm depths were (41.9±1.4, 19.4±0.6°C), (30±0.7, 15.5±0.4°C), ■£=0.7, 14.3±0.5°C) & (26.6±0.4, 14±0.6°C) during winter and spring, ■arooively. Summary and Conclusion There are highly significant correlation between air and soil surface Erarure and negatively correlation with soil moisture (r=0.642 & -0.592), elively. Also there are very highly significant correlation between soil features at 10, 20 & 40cm depths with soil surface temperature (r=0.975, m 0.869). The negative significant correlation between soil temperature *l &. 40cm depths and soil moisture were achieved (r =-0.446 & -0.486). Relation between activity in relation to air and soil surface ratures: plie activity periods of lizards and their getting up from their Elation or aestivation was very sounded interested, where the present rch showed that the animal study are diurnal and they are hibernate or Bte at the different territories depending on the surrounding wonment. f In Abu-Rawash area, Acanthodactylus lizards were active at air and \ surface temperature (27.4±0.9 & 28.1± 1.1°C) during autumn, DTOctiveiy, while during winter season, they were active at air and soil tenreratures (19.1±0.3 & 23±1°C), respectively, whereas during spring, they Itive at air and soil surface temperatures (29.4±0.9 & 33.4±1°C), Cactively and the activity were unimodal in these seasons. Concerning with El-Saliba regions, Acanthodactylus lizards were at air and soil surface temperatures (24.4±0.5 & 35.1±0.4°C) and §L7±0.1 & 36.5±0,7°C) during autumn and spring, respectively and the ■nhity were described as unimodal plane. During summer and winter seasons, Acanthodactylus were not appeared due to the human impacts as pitting trees and grazing distribution. (Belonging to Wadi El-Natroun area, the studied reptiles were active t air and soil temperatures (25.6±0.6 & 30.5±0.3°C) and (27.6±0.0 & BL4±0.0°C) during autumn and spring, respectively and the activity were ascribed as unimodal plane. During summer and winter season, I Acanthodactylus were not appeared due to the human impacts. ■ In Balteem area, Acanthodactylus lizards were active during summer 1 at air and soil surface temperatures (30.1±0.7 & 33.3±1.3°C), respectively, laving autumn season, they are active at air and soil surface temperature 6±0.0 & 15.4±0.0°C), respectively, while during winter season, they were active at air and soil surface temperatures (17±0.2 & 23.4±0.5°C), I respectively. The activity in these seasons were described as unimodal plane, I whereas during spring season, they showed bimodal plane, where the studied species were active for two periods, at this time, the air and soil surface temperatures (24.8±0.8, 25.7±0.1°C) and (33.1±1.6, 34.6±1°C) at the periods I fom 08:00am until 13:00pm and from 16:00pm to 17:00pm, respectively. \. With respect to Borg El-Borolos region, Acanthodactylus lizards were I active during summer at air and soil temperatures (30.3±0.0 & 24.3±0.0°C), I respectively. During autumn, they were active at air and soil surface f remperatures (16.4±0.8 & 28.6±0.8°C), respectively. During winter, the I studied species were active at air and soil surface temperatures (17.7±0.3 & ■0.7±1.7°C), respectively. The activity in these seasons were described as I ■nimodal planes, whereas during spring, they showed bimodal plane, where [ tse studied species were active for two periods at this time at air and soil snrface temperatures (27.4±0.7, 26.2±0.6°C) and (19.5±0.3, 19.6±0.2°C) at tie periods from 09:00am until 12:00am and from 15:00pm until 18:00pm, fcspectively. m4- Biodiversity of the different species: i The three studied species showed fluctuations at the different localities I and seasons, where the highest average of collected A. boskianus was I(21.7±0.7) recorded in Borg El-Borolos area during spring that was Bttificantly with the other seasons, whereas the lowest was (2.3±0.2) feorded in El-saliba during winter. With respect to A. scutellatus, the highest Summary and Conclusion average of collected lizards was (12±0.4) recorded in Borg El-Borolos area Pg winter that was significantly with the other seasons, while the lowest 0) in Abu-Rawash area during summer and spring. The highest average of collected lizards for A. pardalis was (7.3±0.4) recorded in Abu-Rawash area during summer that was significantly with winter and spring and the lowest (0±0.0) in Wadi El-Natroun territory during autumn and spring. ■ • Relation between abundance of adults and juvenile species: I Adult A. boskianus were predominant during spring in El-Saliba, Wadi ■1-Natroun, Balteem and Borg El-Borolos territories, where the highest a*erage of adult species were (4±0.0, 3±0.0, 7.7±0.2 & 18.3±0.4), respectively. ^Concerning the adult of A. scutellatus, the highest average of collected [Izards were (3.3±0.2 & 9.3±0.5) recorded in Abu-Rawash and Borg El-IBorolos territories during winter and the lowest were (0±0.0 & 2.7±0.5) accorded in the same regions during (Summer-spring) and summer, respectively. The highest average in Wadi El-Natroun and Balteem regions acre (4±0.4 & 4.7±0.5) during spring, while the lowest were (0.3±0.2 & l£r0.2) recorded in the same two areas during autumn. The highest average |-Saliba was (2.7±0.2) during summer and the lowest (0.3±0.2) during kRelonging the adult of A. pardalis, the highest average of collected ^■^bu-Rawash and Wadi El-Natroun regions were (5.7±0.2 & 2±0.6), lively during summer, while the lowest one were (1.7±0.2 & 0±0.0) BS autumn and spring for the same regions. The highest average of them i&Saliba, Balteem and Borg El-Borolos territories were (2.7±0.2, 4±0,0 & RL4), respectively during spring. [ The highest average of juveniles A. boskianus were (4±0.4, 2±0.0, b*>_2 & 4±0.0) in Abu-Rawash, El-Saliba, Wadi El-Natroun and Borg El-ftarolos regions, respectively during autumn. For juvenile A. scutellatus the Summar^_and Conclusion teemest average were (3.7±0.4, 2.3±0.2, 1±0.4, 5±0.4 & 3±0.4) recorded in PKawash, El-Saliba, Wadi El-Natroun, Balteem and Borg El-Borolos ones, respectively during autumn season. With respect to juveniles A. lis, the highest average were (4.7±0.2, 2±0.4 & 3±0.7) recorded in Abu-TB, El-Saliba and Borg El-Borolos regions, respectively during autumn, e the highest average in Wadi El-Natroun and Balteem were (1±0.4 & pt0.2) recorded during winter and (Summer-autumn), respectively. • Relation between abundance of males and female species: The highest average of male A. boskianus were (2.3±0.2, 1.7±0.2, j2 & 9±0.4) recorded in El-Saliba, Wadi El-Natroun, Balteem and Borg rolos territories, respectively during spring, whereas the lowest was aded during autumn in all the studied territories. With respect to females tfthe same species, the highest average were (1.7±0.2, 3.3±0.2 & 9.3±0.7) !»ccorded during spring in El-Saliba, Balteem and Borg El-Borolos territories, respectively, while in Wadi El-Natroun area was (1.6±0.2) recorded during ier. jj Concerning the highest averages of male A. scutellatus were (1.7±0.2, M2 & 2.7±0.2) recorded during spring in El-Saliba, Wadi El-Natroun and m territories, respectively, while the highest averages in Abu-Rawash Borg El-Borolos regions were (2±0.4 & 3.3±0.5) recorded during winter, actively. With respect to females of the same species, the highest fees were (1.3±0.2 & 6±0.4) recorded in Abu-Rawash and Borg El-los regions^ while the highest average in Wadi El-Natroun area was fa0.2) during spring, in Balteem was (2±0.4) during winter and spring, lis in El-saliba was (0.7±0.2) during summer, autumn and spring. Belonging the highest averages of male A. pardalis were (4±0.4 & ■fcO.4 & 1.3±0.5) recorded in Abu-Rawash, El-Saliba and Wadi El-Natroun ^m’tories, respectively during summer, while in Balteem and Borg El-Borolos regions were (2,3±0.2 & 2.7±0.2) recorded during spring. With Summary and Conclusion to females of the same species, the highest averages were (1.7±0.2 & 12) recorded during summer and autumn in Abu-Rawash and Wadi El-■toun territories, while in El-Saliba, Balteem and Borg El-Borolos ries were (1.3±0.2, 1.7±0.2 & 2.3±0.2) recorded during spring, lively. cidence and prevalence of the parasitic infection (Haemogregarines); The present study revealed that 48% from lizard of the genus dactylus collected from the different territories found to be infected \ Haemogregarines. In El-Saliba territory, the results showed that, there mm infection of female A. pardalis with Haemogregarine, while, there c infections of female A. pardalis with Haemogregarine at Balteem and H El-Borolos territories. in the present investigation the natural incidence of the parasitic on were fluctuated at the different territories and during seasons for the k species, where the adult species were more infected than the ties except in El-Saliba region, the juveniles A. pardalis showed higher in rate (41.6%) than the adults (34.7%). Also, the infection of juvenile ellatus and A. pardalis (40 & 32.3%) showed higher infection than that ■adults (27.7 & 21%) during autumn, respectively. ; The infection of the male lizards with Haemogregarines at the studied es were higher than the female ones, except female A. boskianus and ellatus in Wadi El-Natroun area, higher recorded (43.7 & 53.8%) than pes (33.3 & 46.1%), respectively. Also the males contaminated with m higher than females at all the different seasons except females A. mis and A. pardalis (33.3 & 26.7%), respectively during autumn. Protozoan parasites in the present study were detected, identified and ied into three species of Haemogregarines Summary and Conclusion I Haemogregarine type ’1’: The parasite was elongated lying parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ^erythrocytes. The immature forms (Trophozoites) were free from the granules and the mature ones (Gamonts) showed numerous granules. The host red blood cells showed distinct cytological responses towards the mature and immature forms of this parasite. Haemogregarine type ’2’: This type has three blood forms, the immature form (small trophozoite); racket like appearance, had a faint red stained nucleus that occupied the central part of the rounded racket shape. This form had a noticeable hypertrophic effect on the host erythrocytes with a great shift of its nucleus to the other border of the cell. The second (intermediate form) representing the elongated trophozoite. The third (gamont) mature form was sausage-shaped and was enclosed within a delicate capsule. The elongated trophozoite had no effect on the infected erythrocytes except for the elongation and displacement of the host cell nucleus parallel to the parasite, ■bile gamonts caused large hypertrophic to them and severe fragmentation to their nuclei. mlaemogregarine type ’3’: I They showed much elongated less slender form, their cytoplasm attained a very faint blue stain with no granulation or vacuolation. The lifected erythrocyte’s suffered from slight hypertrophy with no effect on the ■ucleus localization. t The percentage of infection between the adult A. boskianus were W (r =0.824) than that of the other species, while the percentage of BCtion between the juveniles A. scutellatus was higher (r =0.515) than the writes of the other species. Male and females A. boskianus showed higher .