Open AccessCamouflage versus running performance as strategies against predation in a lizard inhabiting different habitats
Author(s) -
Wan Lixia,
Liu Zhenxia,
Wang Tao,
Yang Minglu,
Li Jiasheng,
Sun Hui,
Niu Chenkai,
Zhao Wei,
Jin Yuanting
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.8374
Subject(s) - camouflage , predation , lizard , foraging , biology , ecology , ectotherm , melanism , predator , crypsis , habitat , sauria
Running speed and camouflage are associated with the foraging and anti‐predator abilities of animals. The toad‐headed lizard, Phrynocephalus versicolor , has evolved a darker dorsal color in melanistic habitats and maintained a lighter color in adjacent, non‐melanistic habitats. We test the hypothesis that lizards have weaker running speed on well‐matching backgrounds than on less matching backgrounds. We used lizard models to compare the predation pressure, while the running speed of dark and light lizards were compared in field tunnels using a video recording method. Our results indicated that both the dark lizards in melanistic Heishankou (HSK) and the light lizards in non‐melanistic Guazhou (GZ) face lower predation pressure than potential color‐background unmatched lizards. The light lizards have a potentially higher running speed than darker lizards in melanistic habitats, which implies that substrate color matching populations with benefits of camouflage might have lower anti‐predation pressure, and the costs of investment in melanin production may reduce running capacity.