Factors affecting foraging behaviour, as seen in a nocturnal ground lizard, Goniurosaurus kuroiwae kuroiwae

Y. L. Werner*, H. Takahashi, Y. Yasukawa, H. Ota

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

In most lizards foraging behaviour is either 'widely foraging' or 'sit and wait' but in geckos it varies and fluctuates, providing an opportunity to examine potential factors modulating the foraging mode. In an endeavour to identify these, marked individuals of Goniurosaurus kuroiwae kuroiwae (Gekkonomorpha: Eublepharidae) were observed during July to October 1999 on Okinawajima, Japan. The subtropical and nocturnal conditions presumably reduced the number of intervening factors. Statistical analyses, including stepwise regression analysis, attributed relative responsibilities to individual factors. Using reflecting adhesive tape, 66 individuals were individually marked. These yielded 60 observation bouts of 30 min, including 28 individuals observed on more than one night. The foraging behaviour was active, relatively 'widely foraging' compared to the 'sit-and-wait' behaviour of most other geckos, and variable both within and between individuals. Individuals with empty stomachs showed increased activity. Various components of the foraging behaviour and the factors affecting them radically differed between the sexes. The body temperature of females averaged 1°C higher than that of males. Female activity exceeded that of males and increased during July to October, being highest after cessation of oviposition. In both sexes activity correlated negatively with the duration of observation bouts and positively with ambient temperature, receding around midnight. Under a full moon males were more active but fewer females emerged from shelters. The effect of tail regeneration differed sexually. These innovative results dictate caution in the manufacture of foraging behaviour data for comparative purposes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)439-459
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Natural History
Volume40
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 Jun 2006

Keywords

  • Foraging mode
  • Geckos
  • Lunar phase
  • Sex
  • Tail regeneration
  • Temperature

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