Research data

In this study, we compared the role of local enhancement in the foraging behaviour of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) from populations inhabiting small islets (< 1km2), larger islands, and mainland habitats. In the field, we offered lizards food and noted whether and how fast individuals would approach the food item and start eating. We compared the lizards’ foraging decisions across populations and between social situations (with and without conspecifics present). In addition, we looked at the occurrence and level of interference competition. We hypothesized that insular lizards, typically living under low predation, high density, and high food variability, will exhibit stronger local enhancement behaviour, but engage more in aggressive interactions than their mainland conspecifics due to the more intense intraspecific competition.