Meeting Abstract
Locomotor capacities may constrain antipredator decisions and hence have important ecological and evolutionary consequences. However, the social context may buffer antipredator responses as an increase in prey group size reduces the amount of risk per individual. Thus, we studied the effects of both locomotor capacity and social context of male lizards (Sceloporus jarrovi) on antipredator behavior in laboratory arenas. First, we measured individual locomotor capacities in the form of maximal sprint speed at 7 different temperatures. Then, pairs of size-matched lizards were assigned to one of two treatment orders; 1) isolated then paired, or 2) paired then isolated. Predation risk was simulated by the researcher approaching the arena and chasing each lizard into a single shelter within the arena. We predicted that faster and paired lizards would exhibit reduced antipredator behaviors. We will report the interactive effects between locomotor capacity and social context on escape behavior and reemergence times under repeated artificial predator attacks.
