Effects of Urbanization on Behavior, Performance, and Morphology of the Garden Skink, Lampropholis guichenoti

Abstract

Abstract There is a close link between the habitat of an organism and its behavior, performance, and morphology. Many urban parks and gardens are modified such that the ground layer is more open and less complex than the ground layer of a natural bushland habitat. Garden Skinks (Lampropholis guichenoti) are widespread and common throughout the Sydney region, in both modified and more natural habitats. Garden Skinks might, therefore, exhibit differences in behavior, performance, and morphology between these two habitats. We studied behavior (habitat use and response to a predator), performance (sprint speed), and morphology of Garden Skinks in three modified urban garden habitats and three more natural bushland habitats. Lizards in modified habitats spent significantly more time on bare, flat surfaces farther from refuge than lizards in natural habitats. The distance to which an observer could approach a lizard before it fled (approach distance) was generally greater in modified habitats, and lizards in mo...