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Predator-driven behavioral shifts in a common lizard shape resource-flow dynamics from marine to terrestrial ecosystems
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  • Oriol Lapiedra,
  • Nina Morales,
  • Louie Yang,
  • Darío Fernández-Bellon,
  • Sozos Michaelides,
  • Sean Giery,
  • Jonah Piovia-Scott,
  • Thomas Schoener,
  • Jason Kolbe,
  • Jonathan Losos
Oriol Lapiedra
CREAF

Corresponding Author:o.lapiedra@gmail.com

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Nina Morales
Harvard University
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Louie Yang
UC Davis
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Darío Fernández-Bellon
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES). University College Cork
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Sozos Michaelides
Concordia University
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Sean Giery
Penn State
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Jonah Piovia-Scott
Washington State University - Vancouver
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Thomas Schoener
Division of Biological Sciences
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Jason Kolbe
University of Rhode Island
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Jonathan Losos
Washington University
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Abstract

Foraging decisions shape the structure of food webs. Therefore, a behavioral shift in a single species can potentially modify resource-flow dynamics of entire ecosystems. To examine this, we conducted a field experiment to assess foraging niche dynamics of semi-arboreal brown anole lizards in the presence/absence of predatory ground-dwelling curly tailed lizards in a replicated set of island ecosystems. One year after experimental translocation, brown anoles exposed to these predators had drastically increased perch height and reduced consumption of marine-derived food resources. This foraging niche shift altered marine-to-terrestrial resource-flow dynamics and persisted in the diets of the first-generation offspring. Furthermore, female lizards ¬¬that displayed more risk-taking behaviors consumed more marine prey on islands with predators present. Our results show how predator-driven rapid behavioral shifts can alter food-web connectivity between oceanic and terrestrial ecosystems and underscore the importance of studying behavior-mediated niche shifts to understand ecosystem functioning in rapidly changing environments.
23 Dec 2022Submitted to Ecology Letters
10 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
10 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
10 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
10 May 20231st Revision Received
10 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
12 May 2023Assigned to Editor
14 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
11 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Jul 20232nd Revision Received
11 Jul 2023Submission Checks Completed
11 Jul 2023Assigned to Editor
12 Jul 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
01 Aug 20233rd Revision Received
01 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
02 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
02 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
21 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Sep 20234th Revision Received
22 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
22 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
22 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Sep 20235th Revision Received
29 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
29 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
29 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept