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Locomotor performance of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis): effects of predatory pressure and parasite load

Authors :
Piotr Skórka
Krzysztof Dudek
Anna Ekner-Grzyb
Monika Gawałek
Piotr Tryjanowski
Zofia Sajkowska
Source :
acta ethologica. 16:173-179
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2013.

Abstract

Locomotor performance affects foraging efficiency, predator avoidance and consequently fitness. Agility and speed determine the animal's social status and reflect its condition. In this study, we test how predatory pressure and parasite load influences locomotor performance of wild specimens of the sand lizard Lacerta agilis. Animals were chased on a 2-metre racetrack. Lizards with autotomy ran significantly faster than lizards with an intact tail, but there was no significant difference in running speed between individuals with fresh caudal autotomy and regenerated tails. Parasite presence and load, age and sex had no significant effect on speed. Our results indicate that autotomy either alters locomotory behaviour or that individuals with autotomised tails were those that previously survived contact with predators, and therefore represented a subgroup of the fastest individuals. Therefore, in general, predatory pressure but not parasites affected locomotor performance in lizards.

Details

ISSN :
14379546 and 08739749
Volume :
16
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
acta ethologica
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....cfb05270fd4a6738a87f767c7b09b217
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-013-0148-2