Results
Title

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

Authors

Ekner-Grzyb, Anna; Sajkowska, Zofia; Dudek, Krzysztof; Gawałek, Monika; Skórka, Piotr; Tryjanowski, Piotr

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.

Subjects

LACERTA agilis; ANIMAL locomotion; MUSCULOSKELETAL system; PREDATION; PARASITES; MOTOR ability

Publication

Acta Ethologica, 2013, Vol 16, Issue 3, p173

ISSN

0873-9749

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s10211-013-0148-2