TY - JOUR
T1 - Increasing dietary breadth through allometry
T2 - bite forces in sympatric Australian skinks
AU - D’Amore, Domenic C.
AU - Meadows, David
AU - Clulow, Simon
AU - Doody, J. Sean
AU - Rhind, David
AU - McHenry, Colin R.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Ecomechanical measures of performance such as bite force may function as an indirect measure of niche. This study proposes that allometric changes in performance may contribute to niche separation, especially in a group where the specific mechanism(s) remains unclear. We surveyed the bite force and morphology of 5 wild caught, sympatric skink species in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Skinks were collected from trapline fences, weighed, photographed, and maximum bite force was measured with a piezoresistive force sensor. Morphological metrics were derived from photographs of the dorsum. Normalized morphological traits indicate interspecific variability in form, particularly in forelimb length, which may be a result of habitat separation. Bite force showed strong, significantly positive, allometric scaling against most morphological traits. Tail length was the only morphological trait that scaled isometrically. Allometric changes in bite force may increase dietary breadth, allowing larger skinks to supplement their diet with larger, more durable prey. This study reveals that ecologically relevant traits may be explained by allometric differences coupled with size variation. Future work should focus on (1) an increase in sample size, (2) long-term measurement of diet selection, and (3) accessibility of prey items to our focal animals.
AB - Ecomechanical measures of performance such as bite force may function as an indirect measure of niche. This study proposes that allometric changes in performance may contribute to niche separation, especially in a group where the specific mechanism(s) remains unclear. We surveyed the bite force and morphology of 5 wild caught, sympatric skink species in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Skinks were collected from trapline fences, weighed, photographed, and maximum bite force was measured with a piezoresistive force sensor. Morphological metrics were derived from photographs of the dorsum. Normalized morphological traits indicate interspecific variability in form, particularly in forelimb length, which may be a result of habitat separation. Bite force showed strong, significantly positive, allometric scaling against most morphological traits. Tail length was the only morphological trait that scaled isometrically. Allometric changes in bite force may increase dietary breadth, allowing larger skinks to supplement their diet with larger, more durable prey. This study reveals that ecologically relevant traits may be explained by allometric differences coupled with size variation. Future work should focus on (1) an increase in sample size, (2) long-term measurement of diet selection, and (3) accessibility of prey items to our focal animals.
KW - ecomechanics
KW - morphology
KW - niche separation
KW - scincomorpha
KW - Western Australia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045656383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/32212
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0986471
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85045656383
SN - 2071-5773
VL - 11
SP - 179
EP - 187
JO - Herpetology Notes
JF - Herpetology Notes
ER -