HOMING BEHAVIOR, SUN-COMPASS ORIENTATION, AND THERMOREGULATION IN THE LIZARD (SCELOPORUS JARROVI): THE ROLE OF THE PARIETAL EYE.
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Title
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HOMING BEHAVIOR, SUN-COMPASS ORIENTATION, AND THERMOREGULATION IN THE LIZARD (SCELOPORUS JARROVI): THE ROLE OF THE PARIETAL EYE.
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Identifier
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AAI8319745
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identifier
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8319745
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Creator
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BISSINGER, BARBARA ELLIS.
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Contributor
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Carol Simon
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Date
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1983
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Zoology
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Abstract
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Normal lizards (Sceloporus jarrovi) were displaced in the field distances ranging from 50 to 200 m. Adult lizards return home from all displacement distances, while juvenile homing success was poor at distances greater than 50 m. One-year old adult lizards had significantly lower homing success than older lizards.;The role of the parietal eye in S. jarrovi homing was investigated by displacing three groups of lizards approximately 150 m: (1) normal lizards, (2) sham-treated lizards (paint placed alongside parietal eye), and (3) experimental lizards (parietal eye covered with a layer of paint). Significantly fewer experimental lizards returned home (20%) than either normal (61%) or sham-treated lizards (57%). In control studies the parietal eye treatment did not affect daily activity patterns, home range size, or survivorship.;Radio-tracking of displaced S. jarrovi showed that normal and sham-treated lizards were significantly oriented towards home one-half hour after displacement and moved in pathways to home that were significantly non-random. Experimental lizards, however, were not significantly oriented towards home, either one-half or three and one-half hours later, and moved randomly where they were released. The mean body temperatures of these radio-tracked lizards showed no significant differences among the three treatment groups.;Sun-compass orientation in S. jarrovi was investigated by displacing four groups of transmitter-equipped lizards: (1) normal lizards on a natural light-dark (LD) cycle, (2) normal lizards entrained to a six-hour advanced LD cycle, (3) experimental lizards on a natural LD cycle, and (4) experimental lizards on the advanced LD cycle. Normal lizards on the natural LD cycle showed significant orientation towards home 30 minutes after release. The normal lizards on the six-hour phase advance, however, shifted their initial orientation approximately 90(DEGREES) counterclockwise from home. These results demonstrate that S. jarrovi can use a time-compensated, sun-compass mechanism to orient towards home. Both groups of experimental lizards moved in random directions after displacement. This result suggests that the parietal eye, and not the lateral eyes, is perceiving the celestial cues utilized in this sun-compass orientation.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Biology
