Meeting Abstract
Animals use information about risks associated with different predators to potentially minimize costs associated with engaging in anti-predator behavior. Chemical cues can provide information about the level of risk posed by potential predators, and predator scent alone can induce anti-predator behavior in many vertebrates. Previous studies have produced conflicting results regarding whether lizards use chemical cues produced by snakes to assess predation risk, but many studies consider only a subset of the potential responses to snake scents. We tested whether male Sceloporus undulatus (eastern fence lizards) discriminate among chemical cues of snakes that pose different levels of predation risk. We recorded behavior (chemosensing, motion displays, movement and head turns) of free-ranging males following presentations of chemical cues of high-risk predatory snakes (Pantherophis spiloides, eastern rat snake; Nerodia sipedon, northern watersnake), a low-risk snake (Storeria dekayi, Dekay’s brown snake) or clean pieces of paper (stimulus control). Overall activity was higher for males exposed to scents of high-risk predatory snakes relative to activity of males exposed to scent of the low-risk snake or control. Male S. undulatus performed more chemosensory behaviors and head turns following exposure to chemical cues of high-risk snakes relative to cues of the low-risk snake or control. Our results indicate that S. undulatus males distinguish between chemical cues of high- and low-risk snakes and underscore the importance of considering multiple responses in studies of anti-predator behavior.
