Sex and ontogenetic dietary shift in Pogona barbata, the Australian eastern bearded dragon
Danny Wotherspoon A B and Shelley Burgin A C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
B Abel Ecology, 10 Ferguson Road, Springwood, NSW 2777, Australia.
C Present address: School of Society and Design, Bond University, Robina, Qld 4229, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: sburgin@bond.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 64(1) 14-20 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO15019
Submitted: 7 April 2015 Accepted: 8 April 2016 Published: 9 May 2016
Abstract
Differences may occur in the carnivore–omnivore–herbivore spectrum over the lifespan of a reptilian species, but it seldom occurs between adult males and females. Information regarding the dietary habits of Australian eastern bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) is also limited. We dissected museum specimens and road kills of the Australian eastern bearded dragon to compare ontogenetic shift in diet. Juveniles were insectivorous. They typically consumed larger, more active, arthropod prey than mature individuals – they are active predators. Adults were omnivorous and typically consumed small arthropod prey, and tended to be sit-and-wait predators. Mature males, particularly larger males, were primarily herbivorous. Such divergence in adult reptilian diet has rarely been reported. We suggest that the dietary switches observed are consistent with the Optimum Foraging Model. Juveniles require a high protein diet to maximise growth from juvenile to maturity. Beyond maturity females continue to require higher levels of protein for reproduction than males. At least in part, this is because males rely on sham aggression to defend territory during the reproductive season rather than resorting to aggressive behaviour. This results in a lesser requirement for protein for adult males than is required for juveniles and adult females. Males have the advantage of not being as dependent on protein, and thus are able to rely more heavily on vegetation.
Additional keywords: agamid diet, Australian agamid, dietary switch, omnivorous lizard, resource partitioning.
References
Aerts, P., Van Damme, R., Vanhooydonck, B., Zaaf, A., and Herrel, A. (2000). Lizard locomotion: how morphology meets ecology. Netherlands Journal of Zoology 50, 261–277.| Lizard locomotion: how morphology meets ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Amey, A. P. (1999). Reproductive biology of the bearded dragon, Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Arnold, S. J. (1983). Morphology, performance and fitness. American Zoologist 23, 347–361.
| Morphology, performance and fitness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bouchard, S. S., and Bjorndal, K. A. (2006). Ontogenetic diet shifts and digestive constraints in the omnivorous freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 79, 150–158.
| Ontogenetic diet shifts and digestive constraints in the omnivorous freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtFClsLc%3D&md5=8902d614cbb19d9c9387734a5467b521CAS | 16380936PubMed |
Cogger, H. G. (2014). ‘Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia.’ 7th edn. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Cooper, W. E., and Vitt, L. J. (2002). Distribution, extent, and evolution of plant consumption by lizards. Journal of Zoology 257, 487–517.
| Distribution, extent, and evolution of plant consumption by lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Costa, G. C., Vitt, L. J., Pianka, E. R., Mesquita, D. O., and Colli, G. R. (2008). Optimal foraging constrains macroecological patterns: body size and dietary niche breadth in lizards. Global Ecology and Biogeography 17, 670–677.
| Optimal foraging constrains macroecological patterns: body size and dietary niche breadth in lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de Vosjoli, P., Mailloux, R., Donoghue, S., Klingenberg, R., and Cole, J. (2001). ‘The Bearded Dragon Manual.’ (Advanced Vivarium Systems: Irvine.)
Dearing, M. D., and Schall, J. J. (1992). Testing models of optimal diet assembly by the generalist herbivorous lizard Cnemidophorus murinus. Ecology 73, 845–858.
| Testing models of optimal diet assembly by the generalist herbivorous lizard Cnemidophorus murinus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dubas, G., and Bull, C. M. (1991). Diet choice and food availability in the omnivorous lizard, Trachydosaurus rugosus. Wildlife Research 18, 147–155.
| Diet choice and food availability in the omnivorous lizard, Trachydosaurus rugosus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Durtsche, R. D. (2000). Ontogenetic plasticity of food habits in the Mexican spiny-tailed iguana, Ctenosaura pectinata. Oecologia 124, 185–195.
| Ontogenetic plasticity of food habits in the Mexican spiny-tailed iguana, Ctenosaura pectinata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ehmann, H. (1992). ‘Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Reptiles.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney.)
Emlen, J. M. (1966). The role of time and energy in food preference. American Naturalist 100, 611–617.
| The role of time and energy in food preference.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Espinoza, R. E., Wiens, J. J., and Tracy, C. R. (2004). Recurrent evolution of herbivoury in small, cold-temperate lizards: breaking the ecophysiological rules of reptilian herbivory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 101, 16819–16824.
| Recurrent evolution of herbivoury in small, cold-temperate lizards: breaking the ecophysiological rules of reptilian herbivory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhtFansr3E&md5=190a753ceaa09656f7b81377f44db67eCAS |
Franz, R., Hummel, J., Müller, W. H., Bauert, M., Hatt, J.-H., and Clauss, M. (2011). Herbivorous reptiles and body mass: effects on food intake, digesta retention, digestibility and gut capacity, and a comparison with mammals. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 158, 94–101.
| Herbivorous reptiles and body mass: effects on food intake, digesta retention, digestibility and gut capacity, and a comparison with mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gadsden, H., Palacios-Orona, L. E., and Cruz-Soto, G. A. (2001). Diet of the Mexican fringe-toed lizard (Uma exsul). Journal of Herpetology 35, 493–496.
| Diet of the Mexican fringe-toed lizard (Uma exsul).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garland, T., Hankins, E., and Huey, R. B. (1990). Locomotor capacity and social dominance in male lizards. Functional Ecology 4, 243–250.
| Locomotor capacity and social dominance in male lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greer, A. E. (1989). ‘The Biology and Evolution of Australian Lizards.’ (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Herrel, A., Spithoven, L., Van Damme, R, and De Vree, F (1999a). Sexual dimorphism of head size in Gallotia galloti: testing the niche divergence hypothesis by functional analyses. Functional Ecology 13, 289–297.
| Sexual dimorphism of head size in Gallotia galloti: testing the niche divergence hypothesis by functional analyses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Herrel, A., Aerts, P., Fret, J., and De Vree, F. (1999b). Morphology of the feeding system in agamid lizards: ecological correlates. The Anatomical Record 254, 496–507.
| Morphology of the feeding system in agamid lizards: ecological correlates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M3hsl2hsg%3D%3D&md5=605de7e520752524199c5c262bba9f6aCAS | 10203257PubMed |
Herrel, A., Joachim, R., Vanhooydonck, B., and Irschick, D. J. (2006). Ecological consequences of ontogenetic changes in head shape and bit performance in the Jamaican lizard Anolis lineatopus. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 89, 443–454.
| Ecological consequences of ontogenetic changes in head shape and bit performance in the Jamaican lizard Anolis lineatopus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, G. (1996). ‘Reptiles and Herbivory.’ (Chapman and Hall: London.)
Kohlsdorf, T., Grizante, M. B., Navas, C. A., and Herrel, A. (2008). Head shape evolution in Tropidurinae lizards: does locomotion constrain diet? Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21, 781–790.
| Head shape evolution in Tropidurinae lizards: does locomotion constrain diet?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1c3kvFWqtw%3D%3D&md5=45735d0788a9dba7f34b2c24be8fd341CAS | 18384539PubMed |
Li, C, Lian, X, Tang, S, Bi, J, and Jiang, Z (2013). Diet, food intake of Phrynocephalus frontalis (Agamidae) and its potential role in desert habitat. Asian Herpetological Research 4, .
Losos, J. B. (1990). Ecomorphology, performance capability, and scaling of West Indian Anolis lizards: an evolutionary analysis. Ecological Monographs 60, 369–388.
| Ecomorphology, performance capability, and scaling of West Indian Anolis lizards: an evolutionary analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lunney, D., Curtin, A. L., Ayers, D., Cogger, H. G., Dickman, C. R., Maitz, W., Law, B., and Fisher, D. (2000). The threatened and non-threatened native vertebrate fauna of New South Wales: status and ecological attributes. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
MacArthur, R. H., and Pianka, E. R. (1966). On optimal use of a patchy environment. American Naturalist 100, 603–609.
| On optimal use of a patchy environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Magnusson, W. E., and Vieira da Silva, E. (1993). Relative effects of size, season and species on the diets of some Amazonian savanna lizards. Journal of Herpetology 27, 380–385.
| Relative effects of size, season and species on the diets of some Amazonian savanna lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Magnusson, W. E., de Paiva, L. J., and de Rocha, R. M. (1985). The correlates of foraging mode in a community of Brazilian lizards. Herpetologica 41, 324–332.
Mautz, W. J., and Nagy, K. A. (1987). Ontogenetic changes in diet, field metabolic rate, and water flux in the herbivorous lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Physiological Zoology 60, 640–658.
Metzger, K. A., and Herrel, A. (2005). Correlations between lizard cranial shape and diet: a quantitative, phylogenetically informed analysis. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 86, 433–466.
| Correlations between lizard cranial shape and diet: a quantitative, phylogenetically informed analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nagy, K. A., Huey, R. B., and Bennett, A. F. (1984). Field energetics and foraging mode of Kalahari lacertid lizards. Ecology 65, 588–596.
| Field energetics and foraging mode of Kalahari lacertid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paulissen, M. A. (1987). Optimal foraging and intraspecific diet differences in the lizard Cnemidophorus sexlineatus. Oecologia 71, 439–446.
| Optimal foraging and intraspecific diet differences in the lizard Cnemidophorus sexlineatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pérez-Mellado, V., and Corti, C. (1993). Dietary adaptations and herbivory in lacertid lizards of the genus Podarcis from western Mediterranean islands (Reptilia: Sauria). Bonn Zoological Bulletin 44, S193–S220.
Perry, G. (1996). The evolution of sexual dimorphism in the lizard Anolis polylepis (Iguania): evidence from intraspecific variation in foraging behavior and diet. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74, 1238–1245.
| The evolution of sexual dimorphism in the lizard Anolis polylepis (Iguania): evidence from intraspecific variation in foraging behavior and diet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pianka, E. R. (1969). Sympatry of desert lizards (Ctenotus) in Western Australia. Ecology 50, 1012–1030.
| Sympatry of desert lizards (Ctenotus) in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pough, F. H. (1973). Lizard energetics and diet. Ecology 54, 837–844.
| Lizard energetics and diet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pyke, G. H., Pulliam, H. R., and Charnov, E. L. (1977). Optimal foraging: a selective review of theory and tests. The Quarterly Review of Biology 52, 137–154.
| Optimal foraging: a selective review of theory and tests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rose, A. B. (1974). Gut contents of some amphibians and reptiles. Herpetofauna 7, 4–8.
Schoener, T. W. (1977). Competition and niche. In ‘Biology of the Reptilia’. Vol. 7. (Eds C. Gans, and D. W. Tinkle.) pp. 35–136. (Academic Press: New York.)
Simpfendorfer, C. A., Goodreid, A. B., and McAuley, R. B. (2001). Size, sex and geographic variation in the diet of the tiger shark, Aleocerdo Cuvier, from Western Australian waters. Environmental Biology of Fishes 61, 37–46.
| Size, sex and geographic variation in the diet of the tiger shark, Aleocerdo Cuvier, from Western Australian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Speake, B. K., Herbert, J. F., and Thompson, M. B. (2004). Comparison of the fatty-acid compositions of prey items and yolks of Australian insectivorous scincid lizards. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 174, 393–397.
| Comparison of the fatty-acid compositions of prey items and yolks of Australian insectivorous scincid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXlt1ylsro%3D&md5=6f275799abc90f53cc87c2b8ec9ee123CAS |
Van Damme, R. (1999). Evolution of herbivory in lacertid lizards: effects of insularity and body size. Journal of Herpetology 33, 663–674.
| Evolution of herbivory in lacertid lizards: effects of insularity and body size.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Leeuwen, J. P., Catenazzi, A., and Holmgren, M. (2011). Spatial, ontogenetic, and sexual effects on the diet of a teiid lizard in arid South America. Journal of Herpetology 45, 472–477.
| Spatial, ontogenetic, and sexual effects on the diet of a teiid lizard in arid South America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Marken Lichtenbelt, W. D. (1993). Optimal foraging of a herbivorous lizard, the green iguana in a seasonal enviornment. Oecologia 95, 246–256.
| Optimal foraging of a herbivorous lizard, the green iguana in a seasonal enviornment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vervust, B., Pafilis, P., Valakos, E. D., and Van Damme, R. (2010). Anatomical and physiological changes associated with a recent dietary shift in the lizard Podarcis sicula. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 83, 632–642.
| Anatomical and physiological changes associated with a recent dietary shift in the lizard Podarcis sicula.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20504228PubMed |
Verwaijen, D., Van Damme, R., and Herrel, A. (2002). Relationships between head size, bite force, prey handling efficiency and diet in two sympatric lacertid lizards. Functional Ecology 16, 842–850.
| Relationships between head size, bite force, prey handling efficiency and diet in two sympatric lacertid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vincent, S. E., and Herrel, A. (2007). Functional and ecological correlates of ecologically-based dimorphisms in squamate reptiles. Integrative and Comparative Biology 47, 172–188.
| Functional and ecological correlates of ecologically-based dimorphisms in squamate reptiles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21672829PubMed |
Vincent, S. E., Herrrel, A., and Irschick, D. J. (2004). Sexual dimorphism in head shape and diet in the cottonmouth snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Journal of Zoology 264, 53–59.
| Sexual dimorphism in head shape and diet in the cottonmouth snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whelan, C. J., and Brown, J. S. (2005). Optimal foraging and gut constraints: reconciling two school of thought. Oikos 110, 481–496.
| Optimal foraging and gut constraints: reconciling two school of thought.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitfield, S. M., and Donnelly, M. A. (2006). Ontogenetic and seasonal variation in the diets of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna. Journal of Tropical Ecology 22, 409–417.
| Ontogenetic and seasonal variation in the diets of a Costa Rican leaf-litter herpetofauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wikelski, M., and Wrege, P. H. (2000). Niche expansion, body size, and survival in Galapagos marine iguanas. Oecologia 124, 107–115.
| Niche expansion, body size, and survival in Galapagos marine iguanas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilson, S. (2001). ‘Australian Lizards: A Natural History.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Wotherspoon, D., and Burgin, S. (2011). Allometric variation among juvenile, adult male and female eastern bearded dragons Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829), with comments on the behavioural implications. Zoology (Jena, Germany) 114, 23–28.
| Allometric variation among juvenile, adult male and female eastern bearded dragons Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829), with comments on the behavioural implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
