Effects of Unpaved Roads on Relative Abundance and Microhabitat Associations of Three Lizards in a Globally Imperiled Ecosystem

ABSTRACT The effects of unpaved roads on local wildlife vary across taxa and ecological contexts, making synthesis of broad patterns difficult. For small ectotherms, vegetation gaps created by unpaved roads modify the local environment in such a way that these features may be more suitable than more naturalized landscapes. We quantified how unpaved roads in Ocala National Forest (Florida, USA) affect relative abundance and microhabitat associations of three lizard species: Florida scrub lizards ( Sceloporus woodi ), six‐lined racerunners ( Aspidoscelis sexlineatus ), and green anoles ( Anolis carolinensis ). We explored how these traits differ between unpaved roads and adjacent stand interiors in two habitat types: sand pine scrub and longleaf pine sandhill. Regardless of habitat type, the relative abundance of Florida scrub lizards was greater along unpaved roads than in stand interiors. However, six‐lined racerunner and green anole relative abundance showed no association with unpaved roads. Regardless of species or habitat type, lizards found near roads were encountered more on leaf litter than those in stand interiors, yet substrate temperature associations were unaffected by unpaved roads. Ultimately, these results support the potential for unpaved roads to affect species abundance and microhabitat associations at fine spatial scales.