Intrinsic traits, social context, and local environment shape home range size and fidelity of sleepy lizards

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 92(3)

Published: March 24, 2022

Abstract Home ranges (HRs), the regions within which animals interact with their environment, constitute a fundamental aspect of ecology. HR sizes and locations commonly reflect costs benefits associated diverse social, biotic, abiotic factors. Less is known, however, about how these factors affect intraspecific variation in size or fidelity (the individual's tendency to maintain same location over time) whether features emerge from consistent differences among individuals sites they occupy. To address this knowledge gap, we used an extensive GPS‐tracking data set long‐lived lizard, sleepy lizard ( Tiliqua rugosa ), included repeated observations multiple across years. We tested three categories predictors—(1) characteristics (sex, aggressiveness, parasitic tick counts), (2) environmental (precipitation, food, refuge quality), (3) social conditions (conspecific overlap number neighbors)—affected fidelity. found that differed consistently annual HRs (with repeatability 0.58 0.33, respectively), all predictors affected both For example, were smaller areas more males had larger than females. In addition, aggressive lizards tended have HRs. Conspecific interacted (social network degree) interactive effect on where whose overlapped neighbors HRs, was particularly strong for neighbors. declined time (HR drifted year year), but rate drift. The fact despite drifting suggests individual traits (e.g., habitat choice criteria differ individuals), rather simple heterogeneity sites. Overall, findings demonstrate (1) strong, long‐term, within‐individual consistency between‐individual space use combined effects traits, conditions, animal implications ecological processes.

Language: Английский

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Personality, space use, and networks directly and indirectly explain tick infestation in a wild population of lizards

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 95(1)

Published: Jan. 27, 2025

Abstract Host personality can markedly affect parasite transmission. Especially for parasites with indirect transmission through the environment, effects of consistent among‐individual differences in behavior may have both direct and components. For example, mediate how hosts respond to infected individuals likelihood that indirectly interact conspecifics (e.g., by visiting patches previously contaminated). Integrating parasites, personality, these different kinds interaction networks constitutes a key step toward understanding natural systems. We evaluated elements using 5‐year field study wild population sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa , their tick which transmit among lizards lizards' shared use refuges. Using Bayesian models, we (1) predictors lizard infestation probability intensity (i.e., average count when infested) (2) relationships predictors. used latter set models assess between metrics. As predictors, “risk” (derived from time‐lagged refuge sharing network), traits (sex, mass, axes aggression boldness), space (number unique refuges home range overlap other lizards), measures synchronous social interactions edge weight degree). found connections our infestation. boldness was positively directly associated infection via intermediary network risk. more refuges, on hand, negatively (via reduced risk), but probability, indicating potential trade‐off anti‐parasite benefits Our results emphasize multiple aspects host associate infection, components proceed pathways, (3) pathways should be considered together because compounding or counteracting effects.

Language: Английский

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Personality, spatiotemporal ecological variation and resident/explorer movement syndromes in the sleepy lizard

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 91(1), P. 210 - 223

Published: Oct. 22, 2021

Individual variation in movement is profoundly important for fitness and offers key insights into the spatial temporal dynamics of populations communities. Nonetheless, individual fine-scale behaviours rarely examined even though animal tracking devices offer long-term, high-resolution, repeatable data natural conditions that are ideal studying this variation. Furthermore, few studies consider movement, fewer also internal traits environmental factors drive behaviour which necessary contextualising differences patterns. In study, we GPS tracked a free-ranging population sleepy lizards Tiliqua rugosa, each Austral spring over 5 years to examine consistent among-individual patterns, as well how these were mediated by ecological factors. We found individuals consistently differed suite weekly traits, strongly covaried among-individuals, forming syndromes. Lizards fell on primary continuum, from 'residents' spent extended periods time residing within smaller core areas their home range, 'explorers' moved greater distances explored vaster environment. Importantly, lizard related two ecologically personality (boldness aggression), sex, features environment (including food availability, water resource), habitat type seasonal (cool/moist vs. hot/drier) conditions. Broadly, specialisations likely reflect life-history tactics including foraging mating ultimately underlie space use. Such information can be used connect phenotypic structure evolutionary processes, example social networks disease-transmission pathways, further highlighting value examining behaviour.

Language: Английский

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Resource manipulation reveals interactive phenotype‐dependent foraging in free‐ranging lizards

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 93(8), P. 1108 - 1122

Published: June 14, 2024

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that individuals differ in foraging tactics and this variation is often linked to an individual's behavioural type (BT). Yet, while typically comprises a series of search handling steps, empirical investigations have rarely considered BT‐dependent effects across multiple stages the process, particularly natural settings. In our long‐term sleepy lizard ( Tiliqua rugosa ) study system, exhibit consistency boldness (measured as willingness approach novel food item presence threat) aggressiveness response ‘attack’ by conspecific dummy). These BTs are only weakly correlated previously been shown interactive on space use movement, suggesting they could also affect performance, their behaviour for food. To investigate how lizards' process wild, we supplemented 123 patches 120‐ha site with three abundance treatments (high, low no‐food controls). Patches were replenished twice week over species' entire spring activity season feeding behaviours quantified camera traps at these patches. We tracked lizards using GPS determine home range (HR) size repeatedly assayed designated assays. hypothesised bolder would be more efficient foragers aggressive ones less attentive quality found BT effect overall performance. Individuals both bold ate highest number items from array. Further dissection showed general fewest part because visited regularly, discriminated between high low‐quality when revisiting them. Bolder lizards, contrast, tomatoes higher proportion available during visits. Our demonstrates can interact different components leading within‐population success. Given individual differences movement will influence social ecological interactions, results highlight potential role BT's shaping fitness strategies population dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Integrating Personality and Thermal Physiology Traits in a Specialist Liolaemus Lizard: Is There a Syndrome?

Ethology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 24, 2025

ABSTRACT Physiological mechanisms underlie behavioural responses that have important implications for individual fitness. While personality variation is well established in reptiles, the underlying physiological are less understood. Studies on lizards yielded mixed results regarding relationships between traits and parameters, with syndromes, particularly connection physiology, remaining largely unexplored. We assessed relationship thermal Liolaemus multimaculatus , considering sex as an intervening factor. Exploration boldness were compared familiar novel substrates, we correlations preference locomotor performance. found no repeatability any of studied, contrast to performance which exhibited high repeatability. Our do not support occurrence a syndrome, correlation was exploration. Exploratory behaviour differed substrates sexes, females being more exploratory than males. More explorative individuals, females, enhanced at lower temperatures, revealing inverse within observed thermal‐behavioural type. Intersexual differences lizard can be attributed both ecological pressures mechanisms. Intraspecific syndromes increase species' niche, potentially favouring its adaptability environmental change. Previous studies independently explored pressures. However, comprehensive understanding how these interact influence outcomes remains elusive.

Language: Английский

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Snake personality: Differential effects of development and social experience

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 76(10)

Published: Sept. 21, 2022

Language: Английский

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Integrating behavioural thermoregulatory strategy into the animal personality framework using the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara as a model

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: June 20, 2024

The study of consistent between-individual behavioural variation in single (animal personality) and across two or more traits (behavioural syndrome) is a central topic ecology. Besides type (individual mean behaviour), predictability (environment-independent within-individual variation) now also seen as an important component individual strategy. Research focus still on the 'Big Five' (activity, exploration, risk-taking, sociability aggression), but another prime candidate to integrate personality framework thermoregulation small-bodied poikilotherms. Here, we found animal thermoregulatory strategy (selected body temperature, voluntary thermal maximum, setpoint range) 'classic' sheltering, risk-taking) common lizards (Zootoca vivipara). Individual state did not explain variation. There was positive type-behavioural correlation selected temperature. activity-risk-taking syndrome, risk-taking-selected temperature syndrome. Our results suggest that syndrome are present lizards, both including traits, selecting high with part risk-prone We propose behaviour should be considered equal weight studies poikilotherms employing active thermoregulation.

Language: Английский

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Exploration and spatial cognition show long-term repeatability but no heritability in the Aegean wall lizard

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 190, P. 167 - 185

Published: July 7, 2022

Language: Английский

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Temporal repeatability of behaviour in a lizard: implications for behavioural syndrome studies

Evolutionary Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(3), P. 401 - 418

Published: Feb. 27, 2023

Abstract It is well established that, across taxa, individuals within populations exhibit consistent differences in their behaviour time and/or contexts. Further, the functional coupling of traits may result formation a behavioural syndrome. Despite extensive evidence on existence among-individual and syndromes animal realm, these findings are predominately based upon short-term assessments, leading to questions regarding stability over longer periods. Understanding if estimates temporally stable would allow predictions individual be made using repeated measures. Here, we used 57 adult male delicate skinks ( Lampropholis delicata ) evaluate variation observed both among (animal personality plasticity) (behavioural predictability), as syndromes, short (four weeks) long (five months) timeframes. To do so, repeatedly assayed activity, exploration, boldness five times per each individual. Overall, our study revealed complex patterns trait (co)variation time. Activity was always repeatable intervals, whereas exploration were not consistent. Yet syndrome between activity detected at shorter temporal scales, suggesting that structure does vary function Our indicate least for some (e.g. activity) studies, measures adequate serving proxy long-term behaviour, reveal population level.

Language: Английский

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Cross-Context Responses to Novelty in Rural and Urban Small Mammals

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Oct. 28, 2021

The Anthropocene is the era of urbanization. accelerating expansion cities occurs at expense natural reservoirs biodiversity and presents animals with challenges for which their evolutionary past might not have prepared them. Cognitive behavioral adjustments to novelty could promote animals’ persistence under these altered conditions. We investigated structure of, covariance between, different aspects responses in rural urban small mammals two non-commensal rodent species. ran replicated experiments testing three types (object, food, or space) 47 individual common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) 41 striped field mice Apodemus agrarius ). found partial support hypothesis that are structured, clustering (i) speed responses, (ii) intensity (iii) food into separate dimensions. Rural did differ most novelty, suggesting habitats do reduce neophobia Further studies investigating whether comparable response patters throughout stages colonization, along synurbanization processes duration, will help illuminate dynamics cognitive life.

Language: Английский

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