Monique Halloy

Bio: Monique Halloy is an academic researcher from National University of Tucumán. The author has contributed to research in topics: Liolaemus & Liolaemidae. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 23 publications receiving 184 citations.

Diet in two syntopic neotropical lizard species of Liolaemus (Liolaemidae): interspecific and intersexual differences

Abstract: The study of the diet of a species can help us understand its natural history and strategies involved in searching for food. Here we describe the diets of two syntopic lizard species from northwestern Argentina, Liolaemus quilmes and L. ramirezae. We compare the two species with respect to their general diet and we compare males and females of L. quilmes with respect to their favorite prey item, ants. Both species are insectivorous and diurnal, and they are of similar sizes, L. quilmes being slightly larger than L. ramirezae. We examined fecal samples of field captured lizards and stomach contents of preserved specimens from the Fundacion Miguel Lillo (54 L. quilmes and 16 L. ramirezae). Prey items were identified to order and, in Formicidae (Hymenoptera), to species. The two Liolaemus species ate prey that belonged mainly to three insect orders: Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Heteroptera), and Hymenoptera. Liolaemus quilmes ate significantly more Hymenoptera than L. ramirezae, whereas the latter ate more Coleoptera and Hemiptera (Heteroptera). With respect to Formicidae, female L. quilmes ate significantly more ants of three species characterized by soft bodies and lack of functional stings than males. These dietary differences between the two species and between males and females of L. quilmes suggest that, with similar prey availability, the lizards use resources differently. Further studies are needed to address these differences. Finally, we compare our results to those obtained in other Liolaemus species.

Home Ranges and Reproductive Strategies in a Neotropical Lizard, Liolaemus quilmes (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

Abstract: . The study of space use may help us investigate the reproductive strategies being used by males and females of a particular species. In a two-year study, home range sizes were recorded in the lizard Liolaemus quilmes, comparing males and females (n = 52 for each sex), by season and by year. Males had significantly larger annual home ranges than females. They also showed greater variability in home range sizes from one year to another, particularly during the reproductive season. When home range size in males was correlated to the number of females within those areas, during the reproductive season, significantly more females were found in larger-sized home ranges, whereas no significant correlation was found during the post-reproductive season, when home ranges of males were smaller. When home range size of males was correlated to their snout-vent lengths and weights, no significant correlation was found. Males that occupied smaller areas and overlapped with fewer females, may suggest a mate-guar...

Patrones de actividad y abundancias relativas en un lagarto del noroeste argentino, Liolaemus quilmes (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

Abstract: A B S T R A C T. — Activity patterns and relative abundances were investigated in the neotropical lizard, Liolaemus quilmes, Liolaemidae, at a site in Northwestern Argentina, to estimate population variations between years and to determine whether differences exist in the number of males and females during the reproductive and post-reproductive seasons. For this, a site 50x50m was selected and marked within the distribution of this species. Periodic censuses were made using visual encounters, during different periods of the spring and summer of three consecutive years. Males came out of hibernation in September followed by females one to two months later. Later both were found in similar quantities although, towards the fall, females became more abundant than males in two of the three years of the study. There were no significant differences in the number of males and females found during the three years of the study, indicating a stable population. Significantly more females were found during the post-reproductive than during the reproductive season and there were significantly more males than females during the reproductive season. These differences reflect different needs in males and females which in turn affects their respective reproductive strategies.

Chemical recognition of conspecifics in a neotropical lizard, Liolaemus pacha (Iguania: Liolaemidae): relation to visual displays, season and sex

Abstract: Chemical cues play an important role in sexual recognition in several lizard species. Here, we investigated whether the neotropical lizard, Liolaemus pacha (Iguania: Liolaemidae) can discriminate between chemical information obtained from males or females. In addition, we also considered the effect of season (reproductive vs. post-reproductive) and the sex of the tested individual. We experimentally tested scent discrimination, using a terrarium previously occupied by a male, a female, and an untreated terrarium as control as sources of different chemical scents. We counted the number of tongue flicks, a measure of chemical exploratory behavior, and the visual displays triggered by these scents for 10 min. Males performed significantly more tongue flicks when female scent was present than when male and control scents were present, indicating sexual recognition. However, females did not show a significant difference in those same conditions, indicating a lack of sexual recognition. For visual displays, males showed significantly higher rates to female and male scents than to control, whereas females did not show any difference. During the reproductive season, the number of tongue flicks and visual displays were higher than during the post-reproductive season. Our results suggest that for male L. pacha, chemical cues play an important role in mate recognition. We discuss the apparent lack of recognition in females. We suggest that the observed seasonal behavioral differences might be associated with physiological changes related mainly to reproduction.

Are lizards feeling the heat? A tale of ecology and evolution under two temperatures

Abstract: Aim Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history ‐ but what kind of temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence of body temperatures, while biogeographers and macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim to examine the relationship between these two measures, to determine the factors that affect lizard body temperatures and to test the effect of both temperature measures on lizard life history. Location World-wide. Methods We used a large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures,and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges to examine the relationships between body and mean annual temperatures.We then examined factors influencing body temperatures, and tested for the influence of both on ecological and life-history traits while accounting for the influence of shared ancestry. Results Body temperatures and mean annual temperatures are uncorrelated. However, accounting for activity time (nocturnal species have low body temperatures), use of space (fossorial and semi-aquatic species are ‘colder’), insularity (mainland species are ‘hotter’) and phylogeny, the two temperatures are positively correlated. High body temperatures are only associated with larger hatchlings and increased rates of biomass production. Annual temperatures are positively correlated with clutch frequency and annual longevity, and negatively correlated with clutch size, age at first reproduction and longevity.

Los últimos 30 años de estudios de la familia de lagartijas más diversa de Argentina. Actualización taxonómica y sistemática de Liolaemidae

Abstract: The Liolaemidae family, it is formed by the genera Ctenoblepharys, Liolaemus and Phymaturus Is the most diverse family of south Southamerica, and has experienced an impressive growth in the last 30 years Many studies related to different disciplines within Biology have been carrying out using genera and species which are members of Liolaemidae Nevertheless, taxonomic and phylogenetic results are the most evident The genus Liolaemus is the most diverse of Iguania, and its number of taxa grows up considerably year after year Phymaturus shows an intermediate diversity inside the family However in the last decade, has tripled its species diversity Owing to the diversity of the family, there have been proposed many taxonomic arrangement and phylogenetic proposals Is unquestionable that the creation of the Asociacion Herpetologica Argentina in 1983, generate a fundamental advance in the study and knowledge of Herpetofauna from Argentina, and those is reflexed in the knowledge of Liolaemidae In this work, we perform a taxonomic and phylogenetic update and review of the family Liolaemidae, emphasizing in the main papers of the last 30 years in Argentina

Evolution and function of multimodal courtship displays

Abstract: Courtship displays are behaviours aimed to facilitate attraction and mating with the opposite sex and are very common across the animal kingdom. Most courtship displays are multimodal, meaning that they are composed of concomitant signals occurring in different sensory modalities. Although courtship often strongly influences reproductive success, the question of why and how males use multimodal courtship to increase their fitness has not yet received much attention. Very little is known about the role of different components of male courtship and their relative importance for females. Indeed, most of the work on courtship displays have focused on effects on female choice, often neglecting other possible roles. Additionally, a number of scientists have recently stressed the importance of considering the complexity of a display and the interactions between its different components in order to grasp all the information contained in those multimodal signals. Unfortunately, these methods have not yet been extensively adapted in courtship studies. The aim of this study was to review what is currently known about the functional significance of courtship displays, particularly about the role of multimodality in the courtship communication context. Emphasis is placed on those cases where a complete picture of the communication system can only be assessed by taking complexity and interaction between different modalities into account.

Home Range Utilisation and Long-Range Movement of Estuarine Crocodiles during the Breeding and Nesting Season

Abstract: The estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the apex-predator in waterways and coastlines throughout south-east Asia and Australasia. C. porosus pose a potential risk to humans, and management strategies are implemented to control their movement and distribution. Here we used GPS-based telemetry to accurately record geographical location of adult C. porosus during the breeding and nesting season. The purpose of the study was to assess how C. porosus movement and distribution may be influenced by localised social conditions. During breeding, the females (2.92 +/- 0.013 metres total length (TL), mean +/- S.E., n = 4) occupied an area < 1 km length of river, but to nest they travelled up to 54 km away from the breeding area. All tagged male C. porosus sustained high rates of movement (6.49 +/- 0.9 km d(-1); n = 8) during the breeding and nesting period. The orientation of the daily movements differed between individuals revealing two discontinuous behavioural strategies. Five tagged male C. porosus (4.17 +/- 0.14 m TL) exhibited a 'site-fidelic' strategy and moved within well-defined zones around the female home range areas. In contrast, three males (3.81 +/- 0.08 m TL) exhibited 'nomadic' behaviour where they travelled continually throughout hundreds of kilometres of waterway. We argue that the 'site-fidelic' males patrolled territories around the female home ranges to maximise reproductive success, whilst the 'nomadic' males were subordinate animals that were forced to range over a far greater area in search of unguarded females. We conclude that C. porosus are highly mobile animals existing within a complex social system, and mate/con-specific interactions are likely to have a profound effect upon population density and distribution, and an individual's travel potential. We recommend that impacts on socio-spatial behaviour are considered prior to the implementation of management interventions.