Ontogenetic habitat shift and risk of cannibalism in the common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) |
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Authors: | Tammy Keren-Rotem Amos Bouskila Eli Geffen |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel;(2) Department of Life Sciences and the Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology at the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University, Beersheba, 84105, Israel |
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Abstract: | Ontogenetic habitat shifts have been documented in numerous fish and amphibians and in some reptiles. Intraspecific competition
together with differential predation, prey size, social interactions, size-related thermal requirements, and morphological
constraints on movement are often implicated in this ontogenetic habitat separation. In the current study, we combined field
observation with experiments in seminatural arenas to test various hypotheses regarding the ontogenetic habitat shift that
we have documented in the common chameleon. Juveniles (mean, 1 g) occupied low grasses and the adults (mean, 35 g) were found
on bushes and trees. Overlap in habitat use between these two age classes was minimal. Our field experiments showed that juveniles
actively avoid the presence of adults by concealment or flight. Adults readily attacked and consumed juveniles, regardless
of their own mass. These results suggest that the risk of cannibalism towards juveniles is an important selective force behind
the ontogenetic habitat shift observed in the common chameleon and may be important in other species too. |
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Keywords: | Cannibalism Ontogenetic habitat shift Common chameleon |
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