In the animal kingdom, speed is often thought to be advantageous for survival. However, a recent study from the University of Melbourne challenges this belief, suggesting that for Australian central bearded dragons, high speed may actually increase their susceptibility to predators.
The research utilised advanced tracking devices fitted onto the dragons, which gathered data on their body temperature and movement patterns. As ectothermic creatures, bearded dragons depend on external heat to regulate their body temperature effectively, which is crucial for essential functions like growth and reproduction. Lead researcher Dr Kristoffer Wild noted that the lizards excel at adjusting their behaviour based on seasonal temperature changes, adeptly transitioning between sunny areas and shaded spots in a process called behavioural thermoregulation.
The team investigated the optimal temperatures for the dragons to reach peak speed and how this speed correlates with their survival chances. Findings published in the Journal of Animal Ecology show that faster lizards face higher mortality rates. Dr Wild theorised that these more agile dragons exhibit riskier behaviours, such as moving through open spaces, which makes them more exposed to predators like birds and cats. This risk appears to be especially heightened in spring, a time when the dragons are more active as they seek mates.
The study underscores a crucial ecological principle: controlled laboratory results do not always mirror real-world dynamics. It illustrates that survival in the wild depends not just on physiological traits but also on behavioural strategies, predation risk, and environmental variables. This highlights the intricate relationship between speed and vulnerability in predators and prey alike, prompting a reevaluation of how speed impacts survival in the natural environment.