Diel Activity Patterns in the Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus

Cooper, William E.; Caffrey, Carolee; Vitt, Laurie J.

doi:10.2307/1564192

Cited by 13 publications

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“…However, the finding that some geckos still group even when there is a surplus of burrows indicates that shelter availability alone does not account for the tendency to aggregate (Cooper et al 1985). There is a greater tendency to aggregate when individuals are given a choice between preexisting burrows and a burrow that must be constructed on their own, suggesting an energy-or time-saving benefit (Cooper et al 1985). Moreover, when in retreats, grouping geckos usually maintain physical contact with each other, even when there is ample space for them to avoid touching (Cooper et al 1985;Lancaster 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Retreat sites might be selected based on specific conditions that few retreats provide (Burke 1994), leaving open the possibility that aggregation is an incidental result of a limited number of suitable retreats, rather than attraction to conspecifics per se. However, the finding that some geckos still group even when there is a surplus of burrows indicates that shelter availability alone does not account for the tendency to aggregate (Cooper et al 1985). There is a greater tendency to aggregate when individuals are given a choice between preexisting burrows and a burrow that must be constructed on their own, suggesting an energy-or time-saving benefit (Cooper et al 1985).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Several species of nocturnal geckos form diurnal aggregations (Greenberg 1943;Cooper et al 1985;Burke 1994;Kearney et al 2001;Shah et al 2003); however, few studies have attempted to identify the cues these lizards use for aggregating or to measure the benefits of grouping. Shah et al (2003) found that nocturnal thick-tailed geckos, Nephrurus milii, aggregate in their diurnal retreat sites.…”

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“…Subsequent studies have shown that patterns of grouping, both in the field and laboratory, differ from random (Cooper et al 1985;Burke 1994). Several biotic (e.g.…”

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“…attraction between conspecifics, reduction of predation risk) and abiotic factors (e.g. temperature conservation, moisture, physical dimensions of retreat site) have been suggested as reasons for grouping (Cooper et al 1985;Kearney et al 2001). Temperature and moisture tolerances are expected to be especially important to C. variegatus because, unlike their tropical eublepharid ancestors (Grismer 1988;Dial & Grismer 1992), this species is distributed in the hot dry deserts of southwestern North America.…”

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Physiological benefits as precursors of sociality: why banded geckos band

2006

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Aggregating has been widely studied in a variety of animals and found to have important benefits in terms of sociality, courtship, predator avoidance and physiology. Several species of nocturnal geckos form diurnal aggregations; however, little is known about the benefits of these groupings. We conducted a series of experiments to determine the benefit of aggregation for the desert-dwelling western banded gecko, Coleonyx variegatus. We found that banded geckos benefit from aggregation by a reduction in evaporative water loss (EWL). No social or mating benefits were detected, and geckos did not group to avoid predators. Geckos did not select diurnal retreat sites based solely on the scent of conspecifics, although they aggregated readily when conspecifics were present. Thus, C. variegatus appear to achieve physiological but not social benefits from grouping. Banded geckos belong to an ancestrally tropical lineage whose descendants invaded present-day North American deserts at a time when these regions were more mesic. This may explain their relatively high rate of EWL. Aggregating seems to be a solution to this physiological handicap. Our study also suggests a path for the evolution of social behaviour: as animals aggregate for physiological benefits, the stage is set for the evolution of more complex social interactions.

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“…Subsequent studies have shown that patterns of grouping, both in the field and laboratory, differ from random (Cooper et al 1985;Burke 1994). Several biotic (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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