HAZARD, L.C.*; SINERVO, B.; MILLER, J.; Univ. of California, Santa Cruz; Univ. of California, Santa Cruz; Univ. of California, Santa Cruz: Physiological performance and predator avoidance behaviors of hatchling side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana)

Predator avoidance is one of the important determinants of survival, and ultimately of fitness. Antipredator behaviors and color patterns of reptiles may be correlated with each other and with physiological performance. We investigated the relationships among these traits in hatchling side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana). Using a digital video camera, we measured maximum sprint speed and numbers of stops and reversals made by lizards ranging from zero to five days old during three passes along a 0.5 m track. Back patterns were scored on a numerical scale ranging from striped to barred. There was a slight but significant effect of snout-vent length on sprint speed; there was no effect of age or back pattern score on size-corrected sprint speed, number of stops, or number of reversals. There was a significant effect of clutch on all measures. Lizards with lower maximum sprint speeds also stopped more frequently and made more reversals, suggesting that poorer performers are less willing to run and may use different predator avoidance tactics. The relationship between hatchling performance and parental performance was examined to evaluate the heritability of sprint speed.