Jacob Owen intends to study the population structure of diminutive geckos in the species Lygodactylus capensis from southern Africa through incorporating genetic analysis and ecology. He is carrying out a 2-month field study of Lygodactylus capensis at Mbuluzi Game Reserve in eastern Swaziland. Geckos will be captured using various standardized techniques,morphometric, demographic, and habitat data will be recorded, and tail clippings will be stored for genetic analyses. Data collected throughout this project will provide insight on density, abundance, sex ratios, demography, genetic relatedness, and social systems of dwarf geckos across different habitat types.
The Dwarf Geckos are diurnal and appear to be mostly arboreal. Very little is known about the ecology and genetics of these lizards, but anecdotal evidence suggests they may have complex social structures.