The Relationship between Location and Displays in a Territorial Lizard

Abstract

We examined whether display behavior of territorial male lizards (Anolis sagrei) differed between locations within heavily used portions of their activity areas (cores), and locations outside of these heavily used regions. In a southern Florida hardwood hammock, we observed six males in each of four 20 × 20 m plots, recording each male's location and display behavior for three, 1-h sessions. When males were outside of their core activity areas, they produced more bobbing displays relative to nodding displays than when they were within their core areas. Similar relationships have been reported in other taxa, such as birds, but they have been little studied in reptiles. The causes and consequences of this display variation remain to be determined.