Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles
We investigated two predictions regarding the incidence of tail regeneration in lizards for three populations ofbrown anoles exposed to varying predation levels from the same predator (cats). Firstly although inefficientpredators are likely to increase the incidence of regenerated tails (i.e. lizard...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
2011
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| Online Access: | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01646.x/abstract http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40346 |
| _version_ | 1848755846118375424 |
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| author | Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. |
| author_facet | Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. |
| author_sort | Bateman, Bill |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | We investigated two predictions regarding the incidence of tail regeneration in lizards for three populations ofbrown anoles exposed to varying predation levels from the same predator (cats). Firstly although inefficientpredators are likely to increase the incidence of regenerated tails (i.e. lizards can escape through tail autotomy),highly efficient predators will kill and eat the lizard and thus leave no evidence of autotomy. At the site with nocats, only 4% of anoles demonstrated signs of tail regeneration. This value was not significantly different from thesite where feral cats (i.e. ‘efficient’ predators that would capture prey to eat, as supported by behaviouralobservation) were present (7%). By contrast, 25% of anoles present at the site with pet cats (well-fed domesticatedcats that caught and played with anoles, i.e. were ‘inefficient’ predators) exhibited regenerated tails. Secondly, moreobvious lizards are more susceptible to predation attempts. Supporting this hypothesis, our data indicate a higherincidence of regenerated tails (28%) was recorded amongst adult males (which are territorial, occupying exposedpositions) compared to females and subadult males (17%) or juveniles (1%). In conclusion, the behaviour of boththe predator and the lizard influences the frequency of regenerated tails in brown anoles. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:02:47Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-40346 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:02:47Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-403462019-02-19T04:26:47Z Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. cat Felis catus caudal autotomy Cuban anole Anolis sagrei We investigated two predictions regarding the incidence of tail regeneration in lizards for three populations ofbrown anoles exposed to varying predation levels from the same predator (cats). Firstly although inefficientpredators are likely to increase the incidence of regenerated tails (i.e. lizards can escape through tail autotomy),highly efficient predators will kill and eat the lizard and thus leave no evidence of autotomy. At the site with nocats, only 4% of anoles demonstrated signs of tail regeneration. This value was not significantly different from thesite where feral cats (i.e. ‘efficient’ predators that would capture prey to eat, as supported by behaviouralobservation) were present (7%). By contrast, 25% of anoles present at the site with pet cats (well-fed domesticatedcats that caught and played with anoles, i.e. were ‘inefficient’ predators) exhibited regenerated tails. Secondly, moreobvious lizards are more susceptible to predation attempts. Supporting this hypothesis, our data indicate a higherincidence of regenerated tails (28%) was recorded amongst adult males (which are territorial, occupying exposedpositions) compared to females and subadult males (17%) or juveniles (1%). In conclusion, the behaviour of boththe predator and the lizard influences the frequency of regenerated tails in brown anoles. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40346 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01646.x/abstract Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd restricted |
| spellingShingle | cat Felis catus caudal autotomy Cuban anole Anolis sagrei Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| title | Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| title_full | Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| title_fullStr | Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| title_short | Frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| title_sort | frequency of tail loss reflects variation in predation levels, predator efficiency, and the behaviour of three populations of brown anoles |
| topic | cat Felis catus caudal autotomy Cuban anole Anolis sagrei |
| url | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01646.x/abstract http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40346 |