1
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Matthews G, Farquhar JE, White CR, Chapple DG. Does thermal biology differ between two colour pattern morphs of a widespread Australian lizard? J Therm Biol 2023; 114:103579. [PMID: 37344018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Alternative phenotypes allow individuals to pursue different adaptive pathways in response to the same selective challenge. Colour polymorphic species with geographically varying morph frequencies may reflect multiple adaptations to spatial variables such as temperature and climate. We examined whether thermal biology differed between colour morphs of an Australian lizard, the delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata. The delicate skink has two colour pattern morphs, with frequencies varying across latitude and sex: plain (darker, more common at temperate latitudes, more common in males) or striped (lighter, more common at lower latitudes, more common in females). We tested heating and cooling rate, sprint speed, thermal preference, field body temperature and metabolic rate in both morphs and sexes to determine any link between colour and morph frequency distribution. Plain individuals heated more quickly, but other thermal traits showed little variation among morphs. Lampropholis delicata colour influences rates of heat exchange, but the relationship does not appear to be adaptive, suggesting that behavioural thermoregulation homogenises body temperature in the field. While we find no substantial evidence of thermal differences between the two colour morphs, morph-specific behaviour may buffer against differences in heat exchange. Latitudinal variation in species colour may be driven by selection pressures other than temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Matthews
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Jules E Farquhar
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Craig R White
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia; Centre for Geometric Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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2
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Temporal repeatability of behaviour in a lizard: implications for behavioural syndrome studies. Evol Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-023-10232-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
AbstractIt is well established that, across taxa, individuals within populations exhibit consistent differences in their behaviour across time and/or contexts. Further, the functional coupling of traits may result in the formation of a behavioural syndrome. Despite extensive evidence on the existence of consistent among-individual differences in behaviour and behavioural syndromes in the animal realm, these findings are predominately based upon short-term assessments, leading to questions regarding their stability over longer periods. Understanding if these estimates are temporally stable would allow predictions of individual behaviour to be made using short-term repeated measures. Here, we used 57 adult male delicate skinks (Lampropholis delicata) to evaluate the stability of behavioural variation observed both among (animal personality and behavioural plasticity) and within individuals (behavioural predictability), as well as behavioural syndromes, across short (four weeks) and long (five months) timeframes. To do so, we repeatedly assayed activity, exploration, and boldness five times per each individual. Overall, our study revealed complex patterns of behavioural variation and trait (co)variation over time. Activity was always repeatable across time intervals, whereas behavioural differences among individuals in exploration and boldness were not consistent. Yet a behavioural syndrome between activity and exploration was detected at both shorter and longer temporal scales, suggesting that syndrome structure in these traits does not vary as a function of time. Our findings indicate that, at least for some traits (e.g. activity) and studies, short-term measures may be adequate in serving as a proxy for long-term variation in individual behaviour, and to reveal the existence of behavioural syndromes at the population level.
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3
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Guindre-Parker S, Kilgour DAV, Linkous CR. The development of behavioral and endocrine coping styles in nestlings from urban and rural sites. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 327:114091. [PMID: 35764176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization is increasing globally and altering the stressors that animals face in their everyday lives. Organisms often differ in their coping styles-both behavioral and endocrine-across urban to rural habitats. For example, urban animals are often bolder, more exploratory, and mount stronger glucocorticoid stress responses compared to their rural counterparts. While these coping styles are important in shaping fitness across the urban-to-rural gradient, it remains unclear when these differences arise in the life of organisms. We explore the development of coping styles in European starling nestlings (Sturnus vulgaris), an urban-adapted species. We test whether breathing rate, handling struggle rate, and bag struggle rate differ across sites and find no difference in the behavioral coping styles of nestlings raised in urban versus rural sites. We also explore differences in baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoids, finding that urban nestlings develop a stronger stress response than rural birds before fledging the nest. We find no significant correlations between behavioral and endocrine traits for urban or rural birds, which supports the two-tiered model of coping styles. One possibility is that behavioral and endocrine differences develop at different times over the lives of organisms. Our findings support prior work suggesting that behavioral and endocrine coping mechanisms act independently of one another, and suggests that endocrine coping mechanisms develop in early life and before differences in behavioral coping styles might arise. Future work on the mechanisms leading to early-life differences in coping styles-from genetics to maternal effects to environmental effects-is needed to best predict how urban-adapted organisms cope with environmental change. Studies across a greater number of sites will help disentangle site from urbanization effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States.
| | - Denyelle A V Kilgour
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
| | - Courtney R Linkous
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
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4
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Brand JA, Naimo AC, Michelangeli M, Martin JM, Sih A, Wong BBM, Chapple DG. Population differences in the effect of context on personality in an invasive lizard. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Within populations, individuals often differ consistently in their average level of behavior (i.e., animal personality), as well as their response to environmental change (i.e., behavioral plasticity). Thus, changes in environmental conditions might be expected to mediate the structure of animal personality traits. However, it is currently not well understood how personality traits change in response to environmental conditions, and whether this effect is consistent across multiple populations within the same species. Accordingly, we investigated variation in personality traits across two ecological contexts in the invasive delicate skink (Lampropholis delicata). Specifically, lizards from three different populations were repeatedly measured for individual activity in group behavioral assays under differing levels of food availability. We found that environmental context had a clear effect on the structure of lizard personality, where activity rates were not repeatable in the absence of food, but were repeatable in the presence of food resources. The difference in repeatability of activity rates across contexts appeared to be largely driven by an increase in among-individual variance when tested in the presence of food resources. However, this was only true for one of the populations tested, with food context having no effect on the expression of personality traits in the other two populations. Our results highlight the important role of environmental context in mediating the structure of animal personality traits and suggest that this effect may vary among populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A Brand
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Annalise C Naimo
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marcus Michelangeli
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jake M Martin
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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5
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Nordberg E, Denny R, Schwarzkopf L. Testing measures of boldness and exploratory activity in native versus invasive species: geckos as a model system. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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6
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Littlewood D, Goulet CT, Chapple DG. Behavioural phenotype modulates group size effects in a lizard. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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7
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Mazza V, Guenther A. City mice and country mice: innovative problem solving in rural and urban noncommensal rodents. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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8
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Goulet CT, Hart W, Phillips BL, Llewelyn J, Wong BBM, Chapple DG. No behavioral syndromes or sex‐specific personality differences in the southern rainforest sunskink (
Lampropholis similis
). Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Celine T. Goulet
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Wes Hart
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Ben L. Phillips
- School of Biosciences University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - John Llewelyn
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
- Global Ecology Lab College of Science and Engineering Flinders University Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Bob B. M. Wong
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - David G. Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
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9
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Dammhahn M, Mazza V, Schirmer A, Göttsche C, Eccard JA. Of city and village mice: behavioural adjustments of striped field mice to urban environments. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13056. [PMID: 32747632 PMCID: PMC7400609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question of current ecological research concerns the drives and limits of species responses to human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC). Behavioural responses to HIREC are a key component because behaviour links individual responses to population and community changes. Ongoing fast urbanization provides an ideal setting to test the functional role of behaviour for responses to HIREC. Consistent behavioural differences between conspecifics (animal personality) may be important determinants or constraints of animals’ adaptation to urban habitats. We tested whether urban and rural populations of small mammals differ in mean trait expression, flexibility and repeatability of behaviours associated to risk-taking and exploratory tendencies. Using a standardized behavioural test in the field, we quantified spatial exploration and boldness of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius, n = 96) from nine sub-populations, presenting different levels of urbanisation and anthropogenic disturbance. The level of urbanisation positively correlated with boldness, spatial exploration and behavioural flexibility, with urban dwellers being bolder, more explorative and more flexible in some traits than rural conspecifics. Thus, individuals seem to distribute in a non-random way in response to human disturbance based on their behavioural characteristics. Animal personality might therefore play a key role in successful coping with the challenges of HIREC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Dammhahn
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Valeria Mazza
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Annika Schirmer
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Claudia Göttsche
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jana A Eccard
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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10
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Biondi L, Fuentes G, Córdoba R, Bó M, Cavalli M, Paterlini C, Castano M, García G. Variation in boldness and novelty response between rural and urban predatory birds: The Chimango Caracara, Milvago chimango as study case. Behav Processes 2020; 173:104064. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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11
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Michelangeli M, Melki-Wegner B, Laskowski K, Wong BB, Chapple DG. Impacts of caudal autotomy on personality. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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12
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Spatial learning in captive and wild-born lizards: heritability and environmental effects. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2805-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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13
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French SS, Webb AC, Hudson SB, Virgin EE. Town and Country Reptiles: A Review of Reptilian Responses to Urbanization. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:948-966. [PMID: 29873730 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of the world population is now inhabiting urban areas, and with staggering population growth, urbanization is also increasing. While the work studying the effects of changing landscapes and specific urban pressures on wildlife is beginning to amass, the majority of this work focuses on avian or mammalian species. However, the effects of urbanization likely vary substantially across taxonomic groups due to differences in habitat requirements and life history. The current article aims first to broaden the review of urban effects across reptilian species; second, to summarize the responses of reptilian fauna to specific urban features; and third, to assess the directionality of individual and population level responses to urbanization in reptile species. Based on our findings, urban research in reptilian taxa is lacking in the following areas: (1) investigating interactive or additive urban factors, (2) measuring multiple morphological, behavioral, and physiological endpoints within an animal, (3) linking individual to population-level responses, and (4) testing genetic/genomic differences across an urban environment as evidence for selective pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah S French
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Alison C Webb
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Spencer B Hudson
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Emily E Virgin
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
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14
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Michelangeli M, Chapple DG, Goulet CT, Bertram MG, Wong BBM. Behavioral syndromes vary among geographically distinct populations in a reptile. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Celine T Goulet
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael G Bertram
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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15
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Walsh S, Goulet CT, Wong BBM, Chapple DG. Inherent behavioural traits enable a widespread lizard to cope with urban life. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Walsh
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - C. T. Goulet
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - B. B. M. Wong
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - D. G. Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
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16
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Abstract
Human-driven rapid environmental changes such as urbanization challenge the persistence of animal populations worldwide. A major aim of research in urban ecology is to unravel which traits allow animals to successfully deal with these new selective pressures. Since behavior largely determines how animals interact with the environment, it is expected to be an important factor determining their success in urban environments. However, behavior is a complex trait and fully understanding how it contributes to urban success is not straightforward: different behaviors may help animals deal with urbanization at different levels of biological organization. For instance, at the species level, urban exploiters often share behaviors that allow them to successfully forage and reproduce in urban areas. However, these behaviors are not necessarily the same that differentiate urban populations from populations of the same species in less disturbed environments. In addition, individual-level studies are essential to identify which mechanisms favor survival and reproduction in urbanized settings. Yet, longitudinal, mid-to-long-term studies of animal behavior at the individual level have largely been limited by logistic challenges. Here, I suggest that research programs in urban behavioral ecology should consider studying behavior at species-, population-, and individual-levels to achieve an integrative understanding of how animal behavior governs urban success. I use recent research carried out in Anolis lizards as an example to illustrate recent progress in behavioral urban ecology. Finally, I suggest some avenues of research at the individual level that could bring insight toward an integrative perspective of the role of behavior in urbanization. Integrative research programs in urban behavioral ecology will provide valuable insight to design management measures to maximize biodiversity and preserve ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Lapiedra
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Edifici C Campus de Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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17
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18
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Thompson MJ, Evans JC, Parsons S, Morand-Ferron J. Urbanization and individual differences in exploration and plasticity. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sheena Parsons
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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19
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Dzieweczynski TL, Portrais KB, Stevens MA, Kane JL, Lawrence JM. Risky business: Changes in boldness behavior in male Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, following exposure to an antiandrogen. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 235:1015-1021. [PMID: 29366512 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Components of boldness, such as activity level and locomotion, influence an individual's ability to avoid predators and acquire resources, generating fitness consequences. The presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the aquatic environment may affect fitness by changing morphology or altering behaviors like courtship and exploration. Most research on EDC-generated behavioral effects has focused on estrogen mimics and reproductive endpoints. Far fewer studies have examined the effects of other types of EDCs or measured non-reproductive behaviors. EDCs with antiandrogenic properties are present in waterways yet we know little about their effects on exposed individuals although they may produce effects similar to those caused by estrogen mimics because they act on the same hormonal pathway. To examine the effects of antiandrogens on boldness, this study exposed male Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, to a high or low dose of one of two antiandrogens, vinclozolin or flutamide, and observed behavior in three boldness assays, both before and after exposure. Overall, antiandrogen exposure increased boldness behavior, especially following exposure to the higher dose. Whether or not antiandrogen exposure influenced boldness, as well as the nature and intensity of the effect, was assay-dependent. This demonstrates the importance of studying EDC effects in a range of contexts and, at least within this species, suggests that antiandrogenic compounds may generate distinct physiological effects in different situations. How and why the behavioral effects differ from those caused by exposure to an estrogen mimic, as well as the potential consequences of increased activity levels, are discussed. Exposure to an antiandrogen, regardless of dose, produced elevated activity levels and altered shoaling and exploration in male Siamese fighting fish. These modifications may have fitness consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa L Dzieweczynski
- Department of Psychology, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA.
| | - Kelley B Portrais
- Department of Psychology, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA
| | - Megan A Stevens
- Department of Psychology, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA
| | - Jessica L Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA
| | - Jaslynn M Lawrence
- Department of Psychology, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA
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20
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Sparkman A, Howe S, Hynes S, Hobbs B, Handal K. Parallel behavioral and morphological divergence in fence lizards on two college campuses. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191800. [PMID: 29444102 PMCID: PMC5812597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of urban development has dramatically altered natural habitats, modifying community relationships, abiotic factors, and structural features. Animal populations living in these areas must perish, emigrate, or find ways to adjust to a suite of new selective pressures. Those that successfully inhabit the urban environment may make behavioral, physiological, and/or morphological adjustments that represent either evolutionary change and/or phenotypic plasticity. We tested for effects of urbanization on antipredator behavior and associated morphology across an urban-wild gradient in the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) in two California counties, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. We compared college campuses in both counties with adjacent rural habitats, conducting field trials that allowed us to characterize antipredator behavior in response to the acute stress of capture. We found notable divergence between campus and rural behavior, with campus lizards more frequently exhibiting diminished escape behavior, including tonic immobility, and lower sprint speeds. Furthermore, campus females had significantly shorter limbs, and while this did not explain variation in sprint speed, those with shorter limbs were more likely to show tonic immobility. We hypothesize that these parallel behavioral and morphological changes on both campuses reflect adjustment to a novel environment involving changes in predation and human presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Sparkman
- Department of Biology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Stephen Howe
- Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Hynes
- Department of Biology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Brooke Hobbs
- Department of Biology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Karina Handal
- Department of Biology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
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21
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De Meester G, Lambreghts Y, Briesen B, Smeuninx T, Tadić Z, Van Damme R. Hunt or hide: How insularity and urbanization affect foraging decisions in lizards. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gilles De Meester
- Department of Biology; Functional Morphology Group; University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - Yorick Lambreghts
- Department of Biology; Functional Morphology Group; University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - Bjorn Briesen
- Department of Biology; Functional Morphology Group; University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - Tom Smeuninx
- Department of Biology; Functional Morphology Group; University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - Zoran Tadić
- Division of Biology; Faculty of Science; University of Zagreb; Zagreb Croatia
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- Department of Biology; Functional Morphology Group; University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
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22
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Michelangeli M, Goulet CT, Kang HS, Wong BBM, Chapple DG. Integrating thermal physiology within a syndrome: Locomotion, personality and habitat selection in an ectotherm. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Celine T. Goulet
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Hee S. Kang
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Bob B. M. Wong
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - David G. Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
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23
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Kang F, Goulet CT, Chapple DG. The impact of urbanization on learning ability in an invasive lizard. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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24
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25
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Does personality influence learning? A case study in an invasive lizard. Oecologia 2017; 185:641-651. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3975-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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26
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Hoskins AJ, Hare KM, Miller KA, Schumann N, Chapple DG. Repeatability, locomotor performance and trade-offs between performance traits in two lizard species, Oligosoma alani and O. smithi. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Goulet CT, Thompson MB, Michelangeli M, Wong BBM, Chapple DG. Thermal physiology: A new dimension of the pace-of-life syndrome. J Anim Ecol 2017. [PMID: 28626934 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Current syndrome research focuses primarily on behaviour with few incorporating components of physiology. One such syndrome is the pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) which describes covariation between behaviour, metabolism, immunity, hormonal response, and life-history traits. Despite the strong effect temperature has on behaviour, thermal physiology has yet to be considered within this syndrome framework. We proposed the POLS to be extended to include a new dimension, the cold-hot axis. Under this premise, it is predicted that thermal physiology and behaviour would covary, whereby individual positioning along the thermal continuum would coincide with that of the behavioural continuum. This hypothesis was tested by measuring thermal traits of delicate skinks (Lampropholis delicata) and linking it to their behaviour. Principal components analysis and structural equation modelling were used to determine if traits were structured within the POLS and to characterize the direction of their interactions. Model results supported the inclusion of the cold-hot axis into the POLS and indicated that thermal physiology was the driver of this relationship, in that thermal traits either constrained or promoted activity, exploration, boldness and social behaviour. This study highlights the need to integrate thermal physiology within a syndrome framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine T Goulet
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - Mike B Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia
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An experimental evaluation of foraging decisions in urban and natural forest populations of Anolis lizards. Urban Ecosyst 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-017-0654-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Goulet CT, Thompson MB, Chapple DG. Repeatability and correlation of physiological traits: Do ectotherms have a "thermal type"? Ecol Evol 2016; 7:710-719. [PMID: 28116065 PMCID: PMC5243194 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Across a range of taxa, individuals within a species differ in suites of correlated traits. These trait complexes, known as syndromes, can have dramatic evolutionary consequences as they do not evolve independently but rather as a unit. Current research focuses primarily on syndromes relating to aspects of behavior and life history. What is less clear is whether physiological traits also form a syndrome. We measured 10 thermal traits in the delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata, to test this idea. Repeatability was calculated and their across‐context correlations evaluated. Our results were in alignment with our predictions in that individual thermal traits varied consistently and were structured into a physiological syndrome, which we are referring to as the thermal behavior syndrome (TBS). Within this syndrome, lizards exhibited a “thermal type” with each being ranked along a cold–hot continuum. Hot types had faster sprint speeds and higher preferred body temperatures, whereas the opposite was true for cold types. We conclude that physiological traits may evolve as a single unit driven by the need to maintain optimal temperatures that enable fitness‐related behaviors to be maximized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine T Goulet
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | | | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
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Michelangeli M, Chapple DG, Wong BBM. Are behavioural syndromes sex specific? Personality in a widespread lizard species. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2197-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Sah P, Nussear KE, Esque TC, Aiello CM, Hudson PJ, Bansal S. Inferring social structure and its drivers from refuge use in the desert tortoise, a relatively solitary species. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2136-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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