Effects of Microhabitat‐Dependent Predation Risk on Vigilance during Intermittent Locomotion in <i><scp>P</scp>sammodromus algirus</i> Lizards

López, Pílar; Martı́n, José

doi:10.1111/eth.12068

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We postulated that the reduction in habitat structural complexity on ski runs could potentially increase rates of predation on reptiles because individuals basking on, or dispersing across, these areas are more visible to predators. Several studies suggested that rates of predation increase for a suite of different taxa as habitat structure is removed (see Irlandi ; Babbitt & Tanner ; Arthur, Pech & Dickman ) and animal behaviour is altered to compensate for this increased predation risk (or perception thereof; Cuadrado, Martin & Lopez ; Lopez & Martin ). Hence, structural complexity plays an important role in providing protection from predators and reducing perceived predation risk, and this could be driving the distributions of reptiles in subalpine ski resorts and adjacent areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experiment to test key hypotheses of the drivers of reptile distribution in subalpine ski resorts

Sato

Wood

Schroder

et al. 2013

Journal of Applied Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Alpine and subalpine ecosystems support many endemic species. These ecosystems are increasingly under threat from human‐induced disturbances such as habitat loss and fragmentation as a consequence of ski resort development and expansion. However, limited peer‐reviewed research has investigated the impacts of ski‐related disturbances on wildlife, particularly on reptiles. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted reptile surveys to determine the patterns of reptile distribution and abundance in Australian ski resorts. Then, using a factorial experimental design, we investigated 1) the influence of temperature and predation in driving observed distributions and 2) how a common ski resort management practice – mowing of modified ski slopes – affected thermal regimes and rates of predation of reptiles on ski runs. We found that the removal of vegetation structural complexity through mowing resulted in significantly higher rates of predation on plasticine models, as well as significantly altered thermal regimes. Crucially, mown ski runs had higher maximum ground temperatures that frequently exceeded the recorded critical maximum body temperatures of the target species of lizards. Thus, mowing has the potential to render these areas unsuitable for thermoregulatory purposes for a large proportion of the potential activity period of reptiles. Together, modifications of the thermal environment and elevated rates of predation appear to explain the avoidance of ski runs by reptiles. To facilitate the persistence of reptiles in disturbed subalpine environments, management plans must focus on implementing strategies that reduce the impact of human activities that alter temperature regimes and predation rates on lizards. Synthesis and Applications. We suggest that the retention of structural complexity on ski runs (e.g. through the cessation of mowing during peak reptile activity periods) and/or revegetation with native plant communities will concurrently provide refuge from predators and buffer against extreme temperatures, making ski runs more hospitable to reptiles. Based on our findings, we emphasize that effective management strategies targeting subalpine biodiversity conservation require an understanding of the drivers that determine species distributions in these landscapes.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experiment to test key hypotheses of the drivers of reptile distribution in subalpine ski resorts

Sato

Wood

Schroder

et al. 2013

Journal of Applied Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among them, stimulus detection and predator avoidance might explain why hatchling P. hispanicus alternate short periods of locomotor activity with short pauses. There is evidence that speed reduces perception of moving lizards (Avery, ) and short pauses during locomotion increase detection of both predators and prey (O'Brien, Browman & Evans, ; Trouilloud, Delisle & Kramer, ; López & Martín, ). Thus, brief stops during escape could improve predator vigilance and microhabitat perception, and hence allow hatchlings to adjust their speed or change their sprint direction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conspicuous blue tails, dorsal pattern morphs and escape behaviour in hatchling Iberian wall lizards (Podarcis hispanicus)

Ortega

López

Martı́n

2014

Biol J Linn Soc Lond

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predation has profound effects on the phenotypes of animal prey and, in lizards, the relationship between coloration and antipredatory behaviour has been studied in depth. However, studies that address the relationships between dorsal patterns and tail coloration with escape behaviour in polymorphic lizards are absent in the literature. We describe dorsal morphs and measured tail coloration and escape behaviour in hatchling Iberian wall lizards, Podarcis hispanicus, a species with a previously undescribed female-restricted dorsal polymorphism (reticulated-blotched males, and either striped or reticulated-blotched females) and juvenile tails with conspicuous blue coloration, which is probably used to divert predator attacks towards the autotomizable tail. Overall we provide evidence for the existence of sexual dimorphism in tail ultraviolet reflectance between reticulated females and males, with striped females being intermediate. We identified sex/dorsal morph, body size and tail brightness as predictors of different aspects of escape behaviour and suggest the existence of two alternative escape strategies between striped and reticulated-blotched females that may be dependent on dorsal morph differences, independently of sex. Reticulated-blotched females, and also males (all reticulated-blotched), ran faster and spent less time paused than striped females, which might reflect an escape behaviour strategy based on endurance in striped females. In addition, lowland males displayed tail waving as a 'last resort' antipredator strategy that may be related to fatigue. We concluded that hatchling antipredatory behaviour is influenced by both dorsal pattern and tail conspicuousness.

show abstract

“…Psammodromus algirus displays a number of antipredator strategies. When predation risk is high, it reduces activity, moves more slowly, and increases vigilance time [52][53][54]. When basking, this lizard stays at ground level near shrubs used as shelters [55].…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crypsis Decreases with Elevation in a Lizard

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predation usually selects for visual crypsis, the colour matching between an animal and its background. Geographic co-variation between animal and background colourations is well known, but how crypsis varies along elevational gradients remains unknown. We predict that dorsal colouration in the lizard Psammodromus algirus should covary with the colour of bare soil—where this lizard is mainly found—along a 2200 m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). Moreover, we predict that crypsis should decrease with elevation for two reasons: (1) Predation pressure typically decreases with elevation, and (2) at high elevation, dorsal colouration is under conflicting selection for both crypsis and thermoregulation. By means of standardised photographies of the substratum and colourimetric measurements of lizard dorsal skin, we tested the colour matching between lizard dorsum and background. We found that, along the gradient, lizard dorsal colouration covaried with the colouration of bare soil, but not with other background elements where the lizard is rarely detected. Moreover, supporting our prediction, the degree of crypsis against bare soil decreased with elevation. Hence, our findings suggest local adaptation for crypsis in this lizard along an elevational gradient, but this local adaptation would be hindered at high elevations.

show abstract

Effects of Microhabitat‐Dependent Predation Risk on Vigilance during Intermittent Locomotion in Psammodromus algirus Lizards

Cited by 13 publications

References 59 publications

An experiment to test key hypotheses of the drivers of reptile distribution in subalpine ski resorts

An experiment to test key hypotheses of the drivers of reptile distribution in subalpine ski resorts

Conspicuous blue tails, dorsal pattern morphs and escape behaviour in hatchling Iberian wall lizards (Podarcis hispanicus)

Crypsis Decreases with Elevation in a Lizard

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About