When fleeing from a predator, animals forfeit the ability to acquire additional resources and reduce their risk of predation (Frid & Dill, 2002). The avoidance of predation and the need to acquire resources to survive creates a tradeoff that animals must balance in order to survive. Flight initiation distance (FID) can be used to determine how animals perceive the risk of predation in their habitat (Stankowich & Blumstein, 2005). Although FID has been used to identify predatory risk assessments in birds, mammals and lizards, it has not yet been used to evaluate risk assessments in urban dwelling pond turtles. Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta) flee from a basking site into an aqueous environment when approached by a natural predator and forgo additional time basking in the sun. In …show more content…
Ponds at the Arboretum have less foot traffic and noise than the pond at Heritage Park. At both locations, basking turtles will be approach by a single or group of observe at a set walking speed of 1 m/s (Bateman, Fleming, Jones, &Rothermel, 2014). The observer will note the starting distance between the focal subject and the observer, the distance where focal subject responded to the approaching observer and the distance when the focal subject fled into the water by dropping different colored flags when each event occurs (McGowan et al. 2014). This same approach will be used to determine if turtles FID changes when approached by groups of two or three people. In order to control for environmental conditions that can affect that behavior of ectotherms, red-eared sliders will be surveyed on sunny days with little to no wind and be surveyed at the same times each day. Our collected data will be analyzed using an ordinal regression analysis with FID as a dependent variable and group size and time of day as an independent
These turtles are often found in large groups basking in the sun on a partially submerged log or rock. Basking is needed for survival for these turtles because they are cold-blooded and basking allows them to regulate body temperature. Also while basking the sun helps get rid of parasitic leeches. During the night these turtle rest at the bottom of a pond usually because they are diurnal meaning: active during day. Painted turtle’s also
In this study we looked at the stamina of western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) infected and not infected by the malarial parasite, Plasmodium. The western fence lizard or blue-belly lizard is a lizard commonly found in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Northern Mexico, and the surrounding areas. Malaria is a parasitic infection that is transmitted by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito bite introduces the parasites from the mosquito's saliva into a person or animal’s blood. The parasites travel to the liver where they mature and reproduce.
Eagles, hawks, roadrunners, coyotes and foxes are predators
Humans often kill powerful animals for interacting with humans in a seemingly dangerous way. Is their murder justifiable? One can answer this question for themselves through the short story The Rattler, in which the author presents the contrasting views of a rational man that must kill an innocent snake The snake is not willing to die without a fight, and the man is not willing to let his duties go unfulfilled.
To test the hypothesis, the researchers measured the turtle’s heart rates, body weights, and food consumption. Complete blood cell counts and fecal corticosterone tests were also performed on the turtles. Behavioral measurements were recorded using video monitoring. The results of the study supported the
The West Indian manatee species is a very unique species. Known as the cow of the sea, the manatee is gentle and calm. As newborns they have a darkish gray colored skin with a light fur covering however, over time that fades into a light gray. They have wrinkled, broad heads with whiskers on the snout. Their bodies taper out to feature a large, flat, round paddle-like tail, with large front flippers.
FLAMINGO BEHAVIOR REPORT My class visited flamingos at our local zoo to observe the behavior of each one and how they interacted with each other. Each person had to observe an individual flamingo. We observed for approximately 15 minutes our flamingos patterns and soon made a pattern sequence, which is a abbreviations of actions containing the order of actions the flamingos made. After making the table my class got into groups of three and started organizing the actions in a more organized and simpler form.
My eyes shot to the right yet every other muscle in my body remained still. Out of the corner of my eye, Roger was shaking. His leg quivered quickly, impatience while waiting to launch his body after hearing the anticipated sound. Eventually his crazy eyes met up with mine, and he gave a subtle nod of assurance. Bang.