Behavior of Lizards

Vincent Bels was born in Verviers, Belgium. He completed his PhD on the association between ethology and functional morphology at the University of Liege (Liege, Belgium). He used lizards as a key model to investigate the process of behavioral ritualization. He was Research Fellow and then Assistant Professor at the University of Liege (Belgium) for more than 10 years. Then he taught Biology, Zoology and Ecology, and developed an applied research program on feeding behavior in domestic animals at the Haute Ecole Condorcet and its associated Agronomic Centre (Belgium) for 10 years. He became Professor at the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris, France) in 2005, and in this capacity served as joint director of a Mixed Research Unit (CNRS/MNHN, France) for over 7 years, as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris, France) for 8 years, and as a member of the Scientific Sections of the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France) for a similar period. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, 10 chapters, and 6 books. The major theme of his research publications is the study of feeding, drinking and displaying in lizards, although he also published some papers on feeding and locomotion in fishes and birds. His main objective is the integration of behavioral and morphological studies into a comprehensive understanding of the "Form-Function" complex as it relates to the evolution of the trophic system of Vertebrates.

Tony Russell was born in London, UK. He completed his BSc at the University of Exeter and his PhD at the University of London. Upon completion of his PhD he took up a short teaching appointment at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland before beginning his work at the University of Calgary, during which time he served for six years as head of the Department of Biological Sciences. After 40 years of teaching various aspects of vertebrate biology and evolutionary biology he retired from his faculty position in 2013, but continues with his research. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 19 chapters, and three books. Although he has published on many groups of vertebrates, the continuing focus of his research has been the structure, function and evolution of geckos. His field work has taken him to Australia, New Zealand, many islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Namibia, and, most recently, Trinidad and Tobago. He has received recognition for his contributions including the NSERC 25 Years of Excellence Award, the Alberta Foundation for Environmental Excellence Award, and the University of Calgary Distinguished Faculty Award. Outside the University he has served as President of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, and President of the International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists.

Introduction to the volume: Evolutionary radiation of lizards and their behavior - Vincent Bels, Anthony Russell


Part I. "Everyday" Behavior

Behavioral thermoregulation in lizards: Strategies for achieving preferred temperature - Ian R.G. Black, Jacob M. Berman, Viviana Cadena, and Glenn J. Tattersall


Lizard locomotion: relationships between behavior, performance, and function - Timothy E. Higham


Lizard foraging - A Perspective Integrating Sensory Ecology and Life Histories - Chi-Yun Kuo, Martha M. Munoz, Duncan J. Irschick


Predatory behavior in lizards: strategies and mechanisms for catching prey - Vincent Bels, Pierre Legreneur, Anthony Russell, Aurelie Maillard, Anne-Sophie Paindavoine, Leila-Nastasia Zghikh, Emeline Paulet, Emilie Van Gysel, Jean-Pierre Pallandre, Sebastien Charlier, Christophe Remy, and Stephane Montuelle


Antipredator behavioral mechanisms: avoidance, deterrence, escape and encounter - Eric J. McElroy


Part II. Social Behavior and Communication


The physiological control of social behavior in lizards - Rachel E. Cohen, and Juli Wade


Sensory processing in relation to signaling behavior - Leo J. Fleishman and Enrique Font


Phylogeny and ontogeny of lizard display behavior - Michele A. Johnson, Ellee G. Cook and Bonnie K. Kircher


Behavioral ecology of aggressive behavior in lizards - Martin J. Whiting and Donald B. Miles


Stable social grouping in lizards - Geoffrey M While, Michael G. Gardner, David G Chapple and Martin J Whiting


Part III. Environmental impact, global change and behavior


Hydroregulation - a neglected behavioral response of lizards to climate change? - Elia I Pirtle, Christopher R Tracy and Michael Ray Kearney


Impact of human-induced environmental changes on lizard behavior: insights from urbanization - Breanna J. Putman, Diogo S. M. Samia, William E. Cooper Jr and Daniel T. Blumstein