Effects of structural habitat on the escape behavior of the lizard, Anolis gingivinus

Abstract

Knowledge of escape behavior contributes to an understanding of a species' natural history and provides insights into the physical capabilities of that animal in a natural setting. Using an "approach stick" to standardize the "threat" to which an animal responded, we examined reactions of the Anguillian anole, Anolis gingivinus. As in other anoles, A. gingivinus allowed relatively close approaches, followed by the behaviors of squirreling, running, jumping, or combinations thereof. The most important factors determining which action was taken were the diameter of the lizard's perch and the direction the lizard was facing. Amount of sun exposure also had an effect on behavior, whereas sex of individuals did not. Some visual aspect of the putative predator also had an effect, determining in part the distance at which the animal fled.

Escape tactic plasticity of two sympatric Norops (Beta Anolis) species in Northeast Costa Rica

“…Escape tactics should have dynamic tradeoffs within a heterogeneous habitat (e.g., varying perch diameter) and thus anoles should use different tactics accordingly (see Larimer et al, 2006). Both lizard species conformed to the first prediction.…”

“…Habitat influences also abound: each area explored differed in vegetation composition, and ranged from secondary forest to plantain garden areas. Although microhabitat use was similar between all habitats explored, these differences may have an effect on approach distance that counteracted the measured risk of approach speed (Larimer et al, 2006). For example, lizards in more frequently disturbed areas (e.g., farm, pasture) may be less likely to flee, regardless of approach speed.…”

“…Furthermore, while OET describes escape behaviour as a trade-off between the risks of predation and costs of escape (Ydenberg and Dill, 1986), it does not account for variation in escape tactics used by the prey. For example, anoles on wider, flatter surfaces may run or squirrel around those surfaces, as opposed to jumping (Cooper, 2006;Larimer et al, 2006). This implies that escape behaviour may have close ties to the structural and vegetative diversity of a microhabitat (Larimer et al, 2006), and thus sympatric lizards should differ in their escape responses if they exhibit spatial microhabitat separation.…”

“…For example, anoles on wider, flatter surfaces may run or squirrel around those surfaces, as opposed to jumping (Cooper, 2006;Larimer et al, 2006). This implies that escape behaviour may have close ties to the structural and vegetative diversity of a microhabitat (Larimer et al, 2006), and thus sympatric lizards should differ in their escape responses if they exhibit spatial microhabitat separation.…”

Variable habitat use influences the mating system of a Lesser Antillean anole

“…The nature of structural habitat also might affect sleep-site choice (e.g., Shew et al, 2002;Poche et al, 2005) and even escape behaviour (Larimer, Powell and Parmerlee, 2006).…”