Iberian Rock Lizards (Lacerta monticola cyreni) Assess Conspecific Information Using Composite Signals from Faecal Pellets
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UNIL restricted access
State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: All rights reserved
Serval ID
serval:BIB_69E9F31E7E97
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Iberian Rock Lizards (Lacerta monticola cyreni) Assess Conspecific Information Using Composite Signals from Faecal Pellets
Journal
Ethology
ISSN
0179-1613
1439-0310
1439-0310
Publication state
Published
Issued date
26/04/2010
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
104
Number
10
Pages
809-820
Language
english
Abstract
A field and laboratory study was performed to analyse the role of excrement deposited on the substrate in intraspecific communication of the Iberian rock-lizard (Lacerta monticola cyreni). In the held, lizards selected specific sites on rocks to deposit faecal pellets, probably in order to facilitate visual location of pellets by conspecifics. Differential tongue flick rates to chemicals presented on cotton swabs demonstrated that male lizards can detect and discriminate between self-produced scents from faecal pellets and those of other conspecific males. In a subsequent experiment, male lizards were tested in a chamber with two platforms containing a faecal pellet of other male on one side and a control artificial pellet on the opposite side. Males spent significantly less time on the side containing the faecal pellet, suggesting that the decision of where to stay may depend on the presence of faecal pellets. Smaller males moved less than larger males on the experimental side whereas on the control side body size did not influence the proportion of time moving. The ability to discriminate chemicals from faeces, and the effects of faecal pellets on lizard behaviour, suggests that faeces might act as composite signals (visual and chemical) in the intraspecific communication of this lizard.
Keywords
Animal Science and Zoology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Web of science
Create date
14/01/2011 16:47
Last modification date
14/04/2023 16:36