Responses by a generalist predator,the Balearic lizard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podarcis lilfordi</Emphasis>, to chemical cues from taxonomically diverse prey |
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Authors: | William E Cooper Valentín Pérez-Mellado |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Indiana University–Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN 46805, USA,;(2) Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca 37071, Spain, |
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Abstract: | Specialist predators may respond strongly to sensory cues from preferred prey, but responses by generalist predators, although
predicted to be less specific, are poorly known. Among squamate reptiles, diet and strength of response to chemical prey cues
covary geographically in snakes that are specialist predators. There have been no previous studies of correspondence between
diet and chemosensory response in lizards that are prey generalists. Actively foraging lizards discriminate between prey chemicals
and control substances. It has been speculated that differential responses among prey species are unlikely in typical species
that are dietary generalists. We examined this relationship in Podarcis
lilfordi, an omnivorous lacertid that consumes a wide variety of animal prey. In experiments in which chemical stimuli were presented
on cotton swabs, lizards responded more strongly to chemicals from a broad spectrum of prey types than to deionized water,
an odorless control. These findings plus previous data showing that P.
lilfordi is capable of prey chemical discrimination suggest that P.
lilfordi can identify a wide range of potential prey using chemical cues. However, there was no evidence of differential response
to stimuli among prey species, even in comparisons of prey included in the natural diet and potential prey not in the diet.
The results, although limited to a single species, are consistent with the hypothesis that lizard species that are prey generalists
do not exhibit the differential response strengths to chemical prey cues observed in snakes that have more specialized diets.
Received in revised form: 17 July 2001
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Behavior Chemical senses Diet Lacertidae Squamata |
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