Costs of reproduction in lizards: escape tactics and susceptibility to predation

摘要: Increased basking and reduced agility in gravid female southern water skinks (Eulamprus tympanum) suggest that they will be more vulnerable to predators. However, females shift their anti-predator tactics towards crypsis, by allowing potential predators (such as a human observer) approach closely than do males non-gravid females. Gravid were taken no frequently or when exposed two types of natural predators, birds (kookaburra, Dacelo gigas) snakes (common blacksnakes, Pseudechis porphyriacus) field enclosures. Both these results the vulnerability prey this system is determined predator's probability detecting item, not its capturing item after detection. Hence, laboratory-based measures performance demonstrating escape speed may sometimes have little relevance actual fitness under conditions, if an animal predator depends primarily on whether it seen, rather how quickly can escape.