Meeting Abstract
Bearing offspring can put females at disadvantages, in predator escape, foraging, and the overall energetic cost. We investigated the effects bearing offspring has on vertical locomotion in the Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus). We used field-collected gravid lizards from the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. Female lizards were encouraged to run up a vertical racetrack made of tree bark to simulate natural perches. Each trial was video recorded and analyzed to measure the amount of time it takes a lizard to cross 10 cm of the racetrack. We compared maximal speeds for females while gravid and within one week after laying eggs. Therefore each female served as its own control. Due to the extra weight gravid females carry, we expect to see a significant reduction in climbing speed and interpret this difference in climbing speed as a cost of reproduction. Reduced speed can put gravid females at a higher risk of predation. As such, we predict that gravid females will choose perches in the field that reduce the need to rely on climbing behavior.
