Inter-populational variation in the cost of autotomy in the metallic skink (Niveoscincus metallicus)

Journal of Zoology

Volumn 264, Issue 4, 2004, Pages 411-418

  Chapple, David G ^a,b   Swain, Roy ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA   (Australia)

^b AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

Author keywords

Geographic variation; Metallic skink; Niveoscincus metallicus; Predation; Scincidae; Tail loss; Tail regeneration

Indexed keywords

AUTOTOMY; ESCAPE BEHAVIOR; INTERPOPULATION VARIATION; LIZARD; PREDATION RISK;

AUSTRALASIA; AUSTRALIA; EASTERN HEMISPHERE; TASMANIA; WORLD;

NIVEOSCINCUS METALLICUS; SCINCIDAE; SQUAMATA;

EID: 10344219515     PISSN: 09528369     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0952836904005941     Document Type: Article

References (61)

1. Arnold, E. N. (1988). Caudal autotomy as a defense. In Biology of the Reptilia 16: 326-273. Gans, C. & Huey, R. B. (Eds). New York: Alan Liss.
2. Avery, R. A. (1970). Utilization of caudal fat by hibernating common lizards Lacerta vivipara. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A comp. Physiol. 37: 119-121.
3. Ballinger, R. E. & Tinkle, D. W. (1979). On the cost of tail regeneration to body growth in lizards. J. Herpetol. 13: 374-375.
4. Barratt, D. G. (1997). Predation by house cats, Felis catus (L.), in Canberra, Australia: I. Prey composition and preference. Wildl. Res. 24: 263-277.
5. Barratt, D. G. (1998). Predation by house cats, Felis catus (L.), in Canberra, Australia: II. Factors affecting the amount of prey caught and estimates of the impact on wildlife. Wildl. Res. 25: 475-487.
6. Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R. & Poulter, R. (2003). The new atlas of Australian birds. Melbourne: Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union.
7. Blomberg, S. P. & Shine, R. (2000). Size-based predation by kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae) on lizards (Eulamprus tympanum: Scincidae): what determines prey vulnerability? Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 48: 484-489.
8. Brown, R. M., Taylor, D. H. & Gist, D. H. (1995). Effect of caudal autotomy on locomotor performance of wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). J. Herpetol. 29: 98-105.
9. Brown, C. K. & Ruby, D. E. (1977). Sex-associated variation in the frequencies of tail autotomy in Sceloporus jarrovi (Sauria: Iguanidae) at different elevations. Herpetologica 33: 380-387.
10. Chapple, D. G., McCoull, C. J. & Swain, R. (2002). Changes in reproductive investment following caudal autotomy in viviparous skinks (Niveoscincus metallicus): lipid depletion or energetic diversion? J. Herpetol. 36: 480-486.
11. Chapple, D. G., McCoull, C. J. & Swain, R. (2004). Effect of tail loss on sprint speed and growth in newborn skinks, Niveoscincus metallicus. J. Herpetol. 38: 137-140.
12. Chapple, D. G. & Swain, R. (2002a). Effect of caudal autotomy on locomotor performance in a viviparous skink, Niveoscincus metallicus. Funct. Ecol. 16: 817-825.
13. Chapple, D. G. & Swain, R. (2002b). Distribution of energy reserves in a viviparous skink: does tail autotomy involve the loss of lipid stores? Aust. Ecol. 27: 565-572.
14. Chapple, D. G. & Swain, R. (2004). Caudal autotomy does not influence thermoregulatory characteristics in the metallic skink, Niveoscincus metallicus. Amphib.-Reptilia 25 (in press).
15. Congdon, J. D., Vitt, L. J. & King, W. W. (1974). Geckos: adaptive significance and energetics of tail autotomy. Science 184: 1379-1380.
16. Cooper, W. E. & Vitt, L. J. (1985). Blue tails and autotomy: enhancement of predator avoidance in juvenile skinks. Z. Tierpsyschol. 70: 265-276.
17. Daniels, C. B., Flatherty, S. P. & Simbotwe, M. P. (1986). Tail size and effectiveness of autotomy in a lizard. J. Herpetol. 20: 93-96.
18. Dial, B. E. & Fitzpatrick, L. C. (1981). The energetic costs of tail autotomy to reproduction in the lizard Coleonyx brevis (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Oecologia (Berl.) 51: 310-317.
19. Dial, B. E. & Fitzpatrick, L. C. (1984). Predator escape success in tailed versus tailless Scincella lateralis (Sauria: Scincidae). Anim. Behav. 32: 301-302.
20. Downes, S. & Shine, R. (2001). Why does tail loss increase a lizard's later chance of being consumed by snake predators? Ecology 82: 1293-1303.
21. Edmunds, M. (1974). Defense in animals: a survey of antipredator defenses. New York: Longman.
22. Fox, S. F. & McCoy, K. J. (2000). The effects of tail loss on survival, growth, reproduction, and sex ratio of offspring in the lizard Uta stansburiana in the field. Oecologia (Berl.) 122: 327-334.
23. Fox, S. F., Perea-Fox, S. & Castro-Franco, R. (1994). Development of the tail autotomy adaptation in lizards under disparate levels of predation at high an low elevations in Mexico. Southwest. Nat. 39: 311-322.
24. Fox, S. F & Rostker, M. A. (1982). Social cost of tail loss in Uta stansburiana. Science 218: 692-693.
25. Hutchinson, M. N., Swain, R. & Driessen, M. (2001). Snakes and lizards of Tasmania. Fauna of Tasmania Handbook No. 9. Hobart: University of Tasmania and Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.
26. Jaksic, F. M. & Greene, H. W. (1984). Empirical evidence of non-correlation between tail loss and predation intensity on lizards. Oikos 42: 407-411.
27. Jennings, W. B. & Thompson, G. G. (1999). Territorial behaviour in the Australian scincid lizard Ctenotus fallens. Herpetologica 55: 352-361.
28. Jones, M. E. & Barmuta, L. A. (1998). Diet overlap and relative abundance of sympatric dasyurid carnivores: a hypothesis of competition. J. Anim. Ecol. 67: 410-421.
29. Jones, S. M. & Swain, R. (1996). Annual reproductive cycle and annual cycles of reproductive hormones in plasma of female Niveoscincus metallicus (Scincidae) from Tasmania. J. Herpetol. 30: 140-146.
30. Kaiser, B. W. & Mushinsky, H. R. (1994). Tail loss and dominance in captive adult male Anolis sagrei. J. Herpetol. 28: 342-346.
31. Klawinski, P. D. & Formanowicz, D. R. (1994). Ontogenetic change in survival value of leg autotomy in a wolf spider, Gladicosa pulchra (Keyserling) (Aranae: Lycosidae), during scorpion attacks. Can. J. Zool. 72: 2133-2135.
32. Legge, S. (1999). Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae). In Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds (HANZAB) 4: Parrots to dollarbird: 1122-1138. Higgins, P. J. (Ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
33. Marchant, S. & Higgins, P. J. (1993). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds (HANZAB) 2: Raptors to lapwings. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
34. Martin, J. & Avery, R. A. (1998). Effects of tail loss on the movement patterns of the lizard, Psammodromus algirus. Funct. Ecol. 12: 794-802.
35. Martin, J. & Salvador, A. (1993). Tail loss reduces mating success in the Iberian rock-lizard. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 32: 185-189.
36. McCoull, C. J. (2001). Geographic variation and adaptation in the metallic skink Niveoscincus metallicus. PhD thesis, University of Tasmania, Australia.
37. Medel, R. G., Jiminez, J. E., Fox, S. F. & Jaksic, F. M. (1988). Experimental evidence that high population frequencies of lizard tail autotomy indicate inefficient predation. Oikos 53: 321-324.
38. Melville, J. & Swain, R. (1997). Daily and seasonal activity patterns in two species of high altitude skink, Niveoscincus microlepidotus and N. metallicus, from Tasmania. J. Herpetol. 53: 29-37.
39. Melville, J. & Swain, R. (1999). Habitat associations and natural history of the Tasmanian 'snow skinks' (Niveoscincus spp.). Pap. Proc. R. Soc. Tasmania 133: 57-64.
40. Molsher, R., Newsome, A. & Dickman, C. (1999). Feeding ecology and population dynamics of the feral cat (Felis catus) in relation to the availability of prey in central-eastern New South Wales. Wildl. Res. 26: 593-607.
41. Niewiarowski, P. H., Congdon, J. D., Dunham, A. E., Vitt, L. J. & Tinkle, D. W. (1997). Tales of lizard tails: effects of tail autotomy on subsequent survival and growth of free-ranging hatchling Uta stansburiana. Can. J. Zool. 75: 542-548.
42. Pianka, E. R. (1970). Comparative autecology of the lizard Cnemidophorus tigris in different parts of its geographical range. Ecology 51: 703-720.
43. Risby, D. A., Calver, M. C. & Short, J. (1999). The impact of cats and foxes on the small vertebrate fauna of Heirisson Prong, Western Australia. 1. Exploring potential impact using diet analysis. Wildl. Res. 26: 621-630.
44. Robinson, M. H., Abele, L. G. & Robinson, B. (1970). Attack autotomy: a defense against predators. Science 169: 301-302.
45. Roth, V. D. & Roth, B. M. (1984). A review of appendotomy in spiders and other archnids. Bull. Brit. Arachnol. Soc. 6: 137-146.
46. Shine, R. (1981). Venomous snakes in cold climates: ecology of the Australian genus Drysdalia (Serpentes: Elapidae). Copeia 1981: 14-25.
47. Shine, R. (1987a). Ecological comparisons of island and mainland populations of Australian tigersnakes (Notechis: Elapidae). Herpetologica 43: 233-240.
48. Shine, R. (1987b). Ecological ramifications of prey size: food habits and reproductive biology of Australian copperhead snakes (Austrelaps, Elapidae). J. Herpetol. 21: 21-28.
49. Smith, G. R. (1996). Tail loss in the striped plateau lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. J. Herpetol. 30: 552-555.
50. Stasek, R. (1967). Autotomy in the mollusca. Occas. Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci. 61: 1-44.
51. Swain, R. & Jones, S. M. (1994). Annual cycle of plasma testosterone and other reproductive parameters in the Tasmanian skink, Niveoscincus metallicus. Herpetologica 50: 502-509.
52. Swain, R. & Jones, S. M. (2000). Facultative placentotrophy: halfway house or strategic solution? Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A comp. Physiol. 127: 441-451.
53. Tinkle, D. W. (1967). The life and demography of the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 132: 1-182.
54. Turner, F. B., Medica, P. A., Jennrick, R. I. & Mazza, B. G. (1982). Frequency of broken tails among Uta stansburiana in southern Nevada and a test of the predation hypothesis. Copeia 1982: 835-840.
55. Vitt, L. J., Congdon, J. D. & Dickson, N. A. (1977). Adaptive strategies and energetics of tail autotomy in lizards. Ecology 58: 326-337.
56. Vitt, L. J., Congdon, J. D., Hulse, A. C. & Platz, J. E. (1974). Territorial aggressive encounters and tail breaks in the lizard Sceloporus magister. Copeia 1974: 990-993.
57. Wake, D. B. & Dresner, I. G. (1967). Functional morphology and evolution of tail autotomy in salamanders. J. Morphol. 122: 265-306.
58. Wapstra, E. & Swain, R. (2001). Reproductive correlates of abdominal fat body mass in Niveoscincus ocellatus, a skink with an asynchronous reproductive cycle. J. Herpetol. 35: 403-409.
59. Willis, L., Threkeld, S. T. & Carpenter, C. C. (1982). Tail loss patterns in Thamnophis (Reptilia: Colubridae) and the probable fate of injured animals. Copeia 1982: 98-101.
60. Wilson, B. S. (1992). Tail injuries increase the risk of mortality in free-living lizards (Uta stansburiana). Oecologia (Berl.) 92: 145-152.
61. Wilson, R. S. & Booth, D. T. (1998). Effect of tail loss on reproductive output and its ecological significance in the skink Eulamprus quoyii. J. Herpetol. 32: 128-131.