Behavioural traits of Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810)

doctoral thesis

• Title (croatian): Svojstva ponašanja primorske gušterice, Podarcis siculus (RafinesqueSchmaltz, 1810)
• Author: Marko Glogoški
• Mentor: Duje Lisičić (mentor)
• Mentor: Anamaria Štambuk (komentor)
• Committee member: Zoran Marčić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivana Maguire (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-15, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology
• Universal decimal classification (UDC): 57 - Biological sciences. Physical anthropology. Biodiversity

Abstract

Invasive species are able to colonise new environments, where they can threaten biodiversity
and have a wide range of negative effects on ecosystems. To understand which behaviours are
associated with competitive success and invasion, I studied behaviour of invasive species
Podarcis siculus in three ecological contexts: 1) on interspecies level with subordinate
Podarcis melisellensis, 2) on intraspecies level between populations inhabiting differing
habitats, and 3) between populations inhabiting similar habitats. Podarcis siculus showed
higher exploratory behaviour, lower boldness, and consumed more food than P. melisellensis.
Podarcis siculus population on a resource-constrained islet exhibited decreased aggressivity
and corresponding phenotypic traits than the mainland population. Populations in similar
habitats showed low differentiation in behaviour. However, substantial behavioural variability
among individuals was observed and certain behavioural traits were correlated. Overall, P.
siculus demonstrated specific behaviours and intra- and interspeciesbehavioural variability
that can be beneficial in both competition and invasiveness.

Abstract (croatian)

Invazivne vrste sposobne su kolonizirati nova staništa, gdje mogu imati širok raspon
negativnih učinaka na ekosustave te ugroziti bioraznolikost. Kako bi razumjeli koja ponašanja
su povezana s kompetitivnim uspjehom i invazivnošću, proučavao sam ponašanja vrste
Podarcis siculus u tri ekološka konteksta: 1) na interspecijskoj razini sa subdominantnom
vrstom Podarcis melisellensis; 2) na intraspecijskoj razini između populacija u različitim
okolišima; i 3) između populacija u sličnim okolišima. Podarcis siculus pokazala je veću
razinu istraživačkog ponašanja i nižu razinu odvažnosti te je konzumirala više hrane od P.
melisellensis. Populacija P. siculus na otočiću s ograničenim resursima pokazala je nižu
razinu agresivnosti i pratećih svojstva nego populacija s kopna. Populacije iz sličnih okoliša
su pokazale nisku diferencijaciju u ponašanju. Međutim, zabilježene su značajne razlike u
bihevioralnim osobinama između jedinki, a određene bihevioralne osobine su bile međusobno
korelirane. Općenito, specifična ponašanja P. siculus te intra- i inter-populacijska varijabilnost
u ponašanju mogu pomoći u kompeticiji i invazivnosti.

• Keywords: aggressivity; boldness; exploratory behaviour; neophobia; sociability; competition; invasiveness
• Keywords (croatian): agresivnost; odvažnost; istraživačko ponašanje; neofobija; socijabilnost; kompeticija; invazivnost
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:167153
• Promotion: 2023
• Study programme: Title: Doctoral study; Study programme type: university; Study level: postgraduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica znanosti u području prirodnih znanosti (doktor/doktorica znanosti u području prirodnih znanosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2025-09-15
• Created on: 2023-10-26 10:46:45