@article{80f495591333412eb189b47300e4075c,
title = "Increasing dietary breadth through allometry: Bite forces in sympatric Australian skinks",
abstract = "Ecomechanical measures of performance such as bite force may function as an indirect measure of niche. This study proposes that allometric changes in performance may contribute to niche separation, especially in a group where the specific mechanism(s) remains unclear. We surveyed the bite force and morphology of 5 wild caught, sympatric skink species in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Skinks were collected from trapline fences, weighed, photographed, and maximum bite force was measured with a piezoresistive force sensor. Morphological metrics were derived from photographs of the dorsum. Normalized morphological traits indicate interspecific variability in form, particularly in forelimb length, which may be a result of habitat separation. Bite force showed strong, significantly positive, allometric scaling against most morphological traits. Tail length was the only morphological trait that scaled isometrically. Allometric changes in bite force may increase dietary breadth, allowing larger skinks to supplement their diet with larger, more durable prey. This study reveals that ecologically relevant traits may be explained by allometric differences coupled with size variation. Future work should focus on (1) an increase in sample size, (2) long-term measurement of diet selection, and (3) accessibility of prey items to our focal animals.",
keywords = "Ecomechanics, Morphology, Niche separation, Scincomorpha, Western Australia",
author = "D{\textquoteright}Amore, {Domenic C.} and David Meadows and Simon Clulow and Doody, {J. Sean} and David Rhind and McHenry, {Colin R.}",
note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements. Data collection was contributed to by D. Dunlop, M. Edgar, H. James, K. Klop-Toker, J. Miller, and J. Green. Help with initial analyses was conducted by S. Edwards. A. Herrel submitted a pre-peer review. Research was conducted on site at El Questro Wilderness Park, and funded by the Student Think Tank and Faculty Research Grant of Daemen College, Australian Research Council (DP0986471), Monash University, and the Australian Geographic Society. (DEC scientific license SF009165.) Funding Information: Data collection was contributed to by D. Dunlop, M. Edgar, H. James, K. Klop-Toker, J. Miller, and J. Green. Help with initial analyses was conducted by S. Edwards. A. Herrel submitted a pre-peer review. Research was conducted on site at El Questro Wilderness Park, and funded by the Student Think Tank and Faculty Research Grant of Daemen College, Australian Research Council (DP0986471), Monash University, and the Australian Geographic Society. (DEC scientific license SF009165.) Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, Societas Europaea Herpetologica. All rights reserved. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2018",
language = "English",
volume = "11",
pages = "179--187",
journal = "Herpetology Notes",
issn = "2071-5773",
publisher = "Societas Europaea Herpetologica",
}