Another potential cost of tail autotomy: tail loss may result in high ectoparasite loads in Sceloporus lizards

Abstract

Tail autotomy is a common phenomenon in lizards that increases the chances of immediate survival during a predation event or agonistic encounter. However, despite short-term benefits, tail regeneration may also impose costs. Several studies have demonstrated that tail loss compromises other vital functions such as lipid storage, reproduction, and the immune system. Several lizard species are hosts of mites and ticks. Here we evaluated in three lizard species from the genusSceloporus, whether individuals that have lost their tails and invested energy in tail regeneration are more susceptible to ectoparasites. Using a multimodel inference framework, we examined if tail loss and regeneration, as well as sex, body condition, and season (dry or rainy) predict ectoparasite load. Our results indicate that investing energy and resources in tail regeneration compromises defence against ectoparasites. These costs differed between sexes and among species. Overall, ectoparasite load increases during the rainy season and is on average higher in males. InS. grammicus, during the rainy season, males with regenerated tails and in poor body condition had more ectoparasites than males with intact tails in good body condition. InS. megalepidurus, we observed the same effect during the rainy season but in females rather than males. InS. torquatus, we found no effect of tail loss on ectoparasite load. We discuss the possibility that differences observed among species reflect differences in both species-specific physiological trade-offs and local environmental conditions.

The ecology and evolution of autotomy

“…Additionally, increased mortality attributed to parasitoids after autotomy was found in two Parapodisima grasshopper species (Miura & Ohsaki, ). In three species of Sceloporus lizards, individuals with a regenerated tail had higher ectoparasite loads than did intact individuals (Argaez, Solano‐Zavaleta, & Zúñiga‐Vega, ), although it is challenging to tease apart the effects of autotomy from regeneration in this case.…”

The movement dynamics of autotomized lizards and their tails reveal functional costs of caudal autotomy

“…However, behavioral adjustments are often costly and fail to fully restore the impaired function, and subsequently regeneration often evolved to recover lost parts that are not vital but increase survivorship and fitness (Goss 1969;Lin et al 2017). In turn, regeneration implies an energy cost, thereby involving allocation trade-offs that may negatively affect somatic growth (Ballinger & Tinkle 1979), reproductive investment (Bellairs & Bryant 1985;Barrios et al 2008) or immune function (Argaez et al 2018), likely having physiological and evolutionary consequences (Stearns 1992).…”

“…2008) or immune function (Argaez et al . 2018), likely having physiological and evolutionary consequences (Stearns1992).…”

Population dynamics of three lizard species from the genus Sceloporus: short‐term changes in demographic parameters

“…Each sampling period lasted between 5 and 8 consecutive days. Each captured lizard was measured (± 0.01 mm SVL), weighed (± 0.1 g) and individually marked with a unique combination of small scars on the ventral surface of the limbs using a medical cautery pen (Ekner et al 2011;Argaez et al 2018). We determined the sex of each lizard by the presence (males) or absence (females) of enlarged post-anal scales (Mayhew 1963;Doughty et al 1994).…”

“…The REPSA has an elevation of 2300 m a.s.l. The main vegetation type is xerophytic scrub, dominated by the bush Pittocaulon praecox (Feria-Ortiz et al 2001;Rojo & Rodríguez 2002;Argaez et al 2018). The study area for S. grammicus was located in the vicinity of Nopala de Villagrán, in the state of Hidalgo (20.26834°N, −99.64171°W) at an elevation of 2400 m a.s.l.…”