Agonism does not covary with territoriality in a gregarious reptile dataset

Natural selection for territoriality is theorized to occur under conditions favouring intra-sexual phenotypic variation in physiology, morphology and behaviour. In this context, certain suites of behavioural traits associated with territoriality are expected to consistently covary among individuals (sometimes referred to as ‘behavioural syndromes’) within sexes. Agonism (conflict-associated behaviours that may or may not be associated with physical aggression) and movement – for example, ranging, or relocation within or across seasons - are two behavioural components that are associated with territoriality, and may be expected to covary in this context. Territorial males are expected to employ agonistic behaviours to actively establish and defend areas and resources, and show more stability in their location across the landscape. However, the interaction between agonism and movement especially for wild reptiles, has rarely been tested. We investigated whether agonistic and movement beha..., Behavioural survey data (Agonism)
We utilised data taken as part of a longitudinal study (2010-2020) conducted at Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane, Australia (-27.462315, 153.019052). Between August – May each year, behavioural surveys were recorded three days per week, twice each day (07:30 – 10:30 and 13:00 – 16:00), with the survey route capturing approximately 85% of the water dragon population (Strickland et al. 2014). For every individual encountered, a profile photograph was taken using a Canon EOS 600 digital camera, their GPS coordinates recorded using a GARMIN eTREX10 handheld device, and any agonistic behaviour being exhibited was recorded. Water dragons perform a number of discrete visual and physical behaviours that are considered agonistic or aggressive towards conspecifics. We noted whether, during the survey, the focal individual demonstrated any of the following: head bob, arm wave, tail slap, chasing or fighting. We did not include fighting data for our subsequent analy...,