File:Brigham Young University science bulletin (1955) (19794732523).jpg

Title: Brigham Young University science bulletin
Identifier: brighamyounguniv15brig (find matches)
Year: 1955 (1950s)
Authors: Brigham Young University
Subjects: Biology -- Periodicals
Publisher: Provo, Utah : Brigham Young University
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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Biological Series, Vol. 15. No. 4 Scelopohu.s Occident.-m.is .\ni) Ut.\ St.\n.siilihi.\na 11 to the territorial relation.ships between males. A few tentative concliision.s .seem justifiable. Males do li\e in close proximity to other males but do not share tlie same basking areas and are not found together during the spring and summer months. They occupy relatively large areas, which apparentlv thev cannot constantly protect; thus, other males frequentiv cross what appear to be boundary lines and are recorded as being in anotlier home range or having a large area of their own which is entered by other nearbv males. In a rough terrain where vegetation is plentiful, home ranges may not be as protectable as in desert flats. In spite of the apparent overlapping of home ranges, we note that males do remain in a restricted area for several years. Data does not invalidate the home range, but it does indicate a reduced tendency for males to set up and virgorously protect a large territorv to the exclusion of other males. On the basis of the polygons (Fig. 9 and 10) and our field observations, we believe that there is a sort of peck order among males in which the more dominant males essentially rule within their territory, with younger and less dominant males being submissive. Thus the dominant males move freely within a large territory but protect with vigor a smaller area which we refer to as the center of activities and wliich includes the principal basking and hiding areas within a given home range. We have not observed any social order among the females, although it may occur. Fe- male lizards are often seen basking together, and a male and a female lizard together on a rock is not an uncommon sight. The large overlapping home ranges which are not totally defended may account for the few encounters betwi'cn males observed by us. The home ranges plotted for 16 males, each of which was observed for three years (Fig. 9), shows considerable variation in size and indi- cates that some males enter three or four other home ranges. One wonders if there is any territorialism, and yet we note some evidence of it in that males are not found together on
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Fij^. 10. Hdiiic r^mgt's for male Sceloporus occidentalism H.iiiiicr Mesa, l(ir llic siimmiT of lWj7. Twelve home ranges are plotted. 'I'lic different oiitline.s are u.sed only for eoriM-nienee of lollow ini; the boundaries.

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