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Riley JL, Noble DWA, Stow AJ, Bolton PE, While GM, Dennison S, Byrne RW, Whiting MJ. Socioecology of the Australian Tree Skink (Egernia striolata). Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.722455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is great diversity in social behavior across the animal kingdom. Understanding the factors responsible for this diversity can help inform theory about how sociality evolves and is maintained. The Australian Tree Skink (Egernia striolata) exhibits inter- and intra-population variability in sociality and is therefore a good system for informing models of social evolution. Here, we conducted a multi-year study of a Tree Skink population to describe intra-population variation in the social organization and mating system of this species. Skinks aggregated in small groups of 2–5 individuals, and these aggregations were typically associated with shared shelter sites (crevices and hollows within rocks and trees). Aggregations were typically made up of one or more adult females and, often, one male and/or juvenile(s). Social network and spatial overlap analyses showed that social associations were strongly biased toward kin. Tree skinks also exhibited high site fidelity regardless of age or sex. There were high levels of genetic monogamy observed with most females (87%) and males (68%) only breeding with a single partner. Our results indicate that Tree Skinks reside in small family groups and are monogamous, which corresponds with existing research across populations. Similar to previous work, our study area consisted of discrete habitat patches (i.e., rock outcrops, trees, or both), which likely limits offspring dispersal and promotes social tolerance between parents and their offspring. Our study clearly demonstrates that there is intra-population variability in Tree Skink social behavior, but it also provides evidence that there is a high degree of inter-population consistency in sociality across their geographic range. We also highlight promising possible avenues for future research, specifically discussing the importance of studying the nature and extent of Tree Skink parental care and quantifying the fitness outcomes of kin-based sociality in this species, which are topics that will further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying variation in vertebrate social behavior.
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Botterill-James T, Halliwell B, McKeown S, Sillince J, Uller T, Wapstra E, While GM. Family aggression in a social lizard. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3502. [PMID: 28615643 PMCID: PMC5471180 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03531-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of family living is underpinned by conflict and cooperation between family members. While family groups can be maintained by reducing conflict between parents and offspring, interactions between siblings may play an equally important role. Here, we compared the level of aggressive interactions between siblings to that between parents and their offspring in the family living skink Liopholis whitii. Aggressive interactions occurred much more frequently between siblings and between fathers and offspring than between mothers and their offspring. These results suggest that ecological and social conditions that reduce conflict between siblings and between males and offspring will be fundamental in the evolutionary maintenance and diversification of family living in these lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Botterill-James
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Ben Halliwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Simon McKeown
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Jacinta Sillince
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, OX1 3PS, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
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