Pollen Load and Transport by the Insular Lizard, Podarcis Lilfordi (Squamata, Lacertidae) in Coastal Islets of Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)

An analysis of pollen grains loaded and transported by the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, at three coastal islets of Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) was performed. We studied 228 individual lizards from spring and summer, 1998, recording 323,986 pollen grains belonging to 35 different plant species. As a consequence of its foraging behavior, the Balearic lizard is able to load large quantities of pollen. In Aire Island pollen load was higher in adult females than males. P. lilfordi is an important pollen loader of some plant species such as Pistacia lentiscus, Crithmum maritimum, Allium ampeloprasum, Carlina corymbosa, and Pancratium maritimum. The role of P. lilfordi as the main pollinator has been previously demonstrated only for the sea fern, C. maritimum. However, results reported here indicate that the Balearic lizard can play an important role in the reproductive success of other plant species on coastal islets off the main island of Menorca.