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Predation on lizard eggs by ants: interaction modifications in an unstable physical environment

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dc.contributor.authorChalcraft, David Richarden
dc.contributor.committeechairCranford, Jack A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAndrews, Robin M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJones, Robert H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSharov, Alexei A.en
dc.contributor.departmentBiologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:29:14Zen
dc.date.adate2009-02-13en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:29:14Zen
dc.date.issued1996-05-03en
dc.date.rdate2009-02-13en
dc.date.sdate2009-02-13en
dc.description.abstractThe importance of abiotic influences on the strength of biotic interactions is largely unknown. To explain large annual fluctuations in the population size of the tropical lizard, Anolis limifrons, on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, I hypothesized that annual variation in lizard population size is the result of modifications in the rate of predation on lizard eggs by Solenopsis ants induced by annual variation in wet season rainfall. I tested this hypothesis by manipulating water availability on experimental plots to Simulate the wettest (HW) and driest (LW) wet seasons in the last twenty years. The mean time to find and attack eggs by Solenopsis ants was significantly shorter on HW plots (range=6.6-21.7 days) than LW plots (range=17.8-30.8 days). Exponential models that regressed time on the cumulative percent mortality indicated that 1) the rate of predation was 3-5 times faster on HW plots than LW plots and 2) the predicted mortality of lizard eggs during their 42 day incubation period was 82.2-95.7% on HW plots and 56.1-58.6% on LW plots. Thus, the amount of rainfall during the wet season affected the population size of A. limifrons by modifying the strength of the interaction between Solenopsis ants and the eggs of A. limifrons.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentx, 99 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-02132009-172044en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02132009-172044/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/41070en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1996.C435.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 35079071en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectpopulation dynamicsen
dc.subjectPanamaen
dc.subjectinteraction modificationsen
dc.subjectAnolis limifronsen
dc.subjectSauriaen
dc.subjectSolenopsisen
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1996.C435en
dc.titlePredation on lizard eggs by ants: interaction modifications in an unstable physical environmenten
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineBiologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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