Age-dependent search behavior in the Colorado checkered whiptail (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus)

Authors

Carina Kusaka, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474Follow
Kaera Utsumi, Erell Institute, 2808 Meadow Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047Follow
Catherine Staley, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474Follow
Rachael Pedersen, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474Follow
Julia Valdivia, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474Follow
Elizabeth Liu, Undergraduate Biology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045Follow
Hannah Caracalas, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474Follow
Hannah Reynolds, Undergraduate Biology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045Follow
Maria A. Eifler, Erell Institute, 2808 Meadow Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047Follow
Douglas A. Eifler, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474; Erell Institute, 2808 Meadow Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047Follow

Abstract

We compared movement and space use patterns of foraging adult and juvenile Colorado checkered whiptails (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus) in pinyon pine–juniper woodland. Through focal observations, we characterized (1) movement paths as a series of step lengths and turn angles at 30-s intervals, and (2) habitat use reflected by the proportion of time spent in different vegetation types and in the open. Adults and juveniles differed in both movement and habitat use. Adults spent more time in the open and in association with mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), while juveniles were more frequently found in association with dead wood, grass, and juniper (Juniperus monosperma). Adults also moved greater distances than juveniles and made use of larger areas. Movement patterns differed between age classes, with adults having longer step lengths. Adults and juveniles also engaged in different step length–turn angle sequences. For both classes, movement characteristics differed with habitat type.


Comparamos los patrones de movimiento y de uso del espacio entre adultos y juveniles lagartos cola de látigo cuadriculados de Colorado (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus) en el bosque de piñón y junípero. Con observaciones focales, caracterizamos (1) los caminos de movimiento como una serie de longitudes de paso y ángulos de giro a intervalos de 30 s, y (2) el uso del hábitat reflejado por la proporción de tiempo pasado en diferentes tipos de vegetación y en lugar despejado. Adultos y juveniles se diferenciaban en ambos movimiento y uso del hábitat. Adultos pasaron más tiempo en lugar despejado y en asociación con caoba de montaña (Cercocarpus montanus), mientras juveniles se asociaron más frecuentemente con madera muerta, pasto y junípero (Juniperus monosperma). Además, adultos se movieron distancias más largas que juveniles y usaron áreas más grandes. Patrones de movimiento diferían entre clases de desarrollo, en que los adultos tenían longitudes de paso más largos. Adultos y juveniles también se metieron en diferentes secuencias de longitud de paso y ángulo de giro. Para ambas clases, las características del movimiento diferían con tipo de hábitat.

Recommended Citation

Kusaka, Carina; Utsumi, Kaera; Staley, Catherine; Pedersen, Rachael; Valdivia, Julia; Liu, Elizabeth; Caracalas, Hannah; Reynolds, Hannah; Eifler, Maria A.; and Eifler, Douglas A. (2021) "Age-dependent search behavior in the Colorado checkered whiptail (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus)," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 81: No. 4, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol81/iss4/4