Habitat-dependent search behavior in the Colorado Checkered Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neotesselata)

Authors

Kaera Utsumi, Erell Institute, Lawrence, KS 66047Follow
Carina Kusaka, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523Follow
Rachael Pedersen, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523Follow
Catherine Staley, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523Follow
Lisa Dunlap, Undergraduate Mathematics Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94702Follow
Sophia Gilbert Smith, Undergraduate Biology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045Follow
Maria A. Eifler, Erell Institute, Lawrence, KS 66047Follow
Douglas A. Eifler, Erell Institute, Lawrence, KS 66047Follow

Abstract

We compared the movement patterns of foraging Colorado Checkered Whiptails (Aspidoscelis neotesselata) in 2 different habitat types: shrub-grassland and pinyon pine–juniper woodland. We characterized movement by (1) segmenting movement paths into step lengths and turn angles and (2) determining first-passage times (FPTs). Lizards differed in their pattern of movement in the 2 habitats. FPTs were shorter in the pinyon pine–juniper woodland habitat and were positively correlated with ground cover. Lizards also moved more frequently, had longer step lengths, and traveled greater total distances in the pinyon pine–juniper woodland. There were no habitat differences in turn angles, net displacement, or movement path straightness. Habitat-based differences in movement might reflect differences in prey availability and predation risk.


Comparamos los patrones de movimiento de los lagartos cola de látigo cuadriculados de Colorado (Aspidoscelis neotesselata) en dos clases de hábitat: pradera de arbusto y bosque de piñón y junípero. Caracterizamos el movimiento por (1) segmentar las veredas de movimiento en longitudes de paso y ángulos de giro y (2) determiner el tiempo del primer avance (TPA). Se diferenciaban los lagartos en sus patrones de movimientos entre los hábitats. En el bosque de piñón y junípero, los TPA eran más cortos y se correlacionaban positivamente con la cobertura del terreno. Además, los lagartos acá se movieron más frecuentemente, tuvieron longitudes de paso más largos y viajaron distancias totales más largos. No había diferencias de ángulos de giro, desplazamiento neto o rectitud del camino entre los hábitats. Los tiempos del primer avance aumentaban con el nivel de cobertura vegetal en el hábitat del bosque. Las diferencias de movimiento basadas en el hábitat pueden reflejar diferencias de la disponibilidad de presa y el riesgo de depredación.

Recommended Citation

Utsumi, Kaera; Kusaka, Carina; Pedersen, Rachael; Staley, Catherine; Dunlap, Lisa; Gilbert Smith, Sophia; Eifler, Maria A.; and Eifler, Douglas A. (2020) "Habitat-dependent search behavior in the Colorado Checkered Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neotesselata)," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 80: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol80/iss1/2