Gecko Foraging Activity

README - Assessment 1 Data Synthesis Gecko Foraging ActivityCameron Wood, 52092891 This dataset includes data on the foraging activity and mode of various species of gecko (order:squamata, infraorder: gekkota) It was decided that for this assessment that I would investigate a clade of reptiles as changes in temperatures associated with global change will alter their physiological performance and thus their vulnerability to extinction.The dataset lists movement measurements including both moves per minute (MPM) and percent time moving (PTM). Movement‐based indices such as moves per minute (MPM) and proportion time moving (PTM) are common methodologies to quantify foraging behaviour (Halperin et al., 2018)Species name used in the respective study were included and then checked against the accepted IUCN binomial name to ensure taxonomic harmonisation. A list of the common names for each species were included for completeness.Foraging mode was also recorded i.e. either nocturnal or diurnal.Abiotic factors recorded include temperature (°C), location, latitude (decimal format), longitude (decimal format) and year of data collection.Google scholar was the chosen database used for the data collection process. The search parameters used were:"gecko" foraging activity "MPM" "PTM" REFERENCES: Aowphol, A., Thirakhupt, K., Nabhitabhata, J. and Voris, H.K., 2006. Foraging ecology of the Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko in a residential area in Thailand. Amphibia-Reptilia, 27(4), pp.491-503. Cooper Jr, W.E., Vitt, L.J., Caldwell, J.P. and Fox, S.F., 2001. Foraging modes of some American lizards: relationships among measurement variables and discreteness of modes. Herpetologica, pp.65-76. Cooper, W., Castañeda, G., García-De la Peña, C., Wilson, B., Caldwell, J. and Vitt, L., 2013. Foraging modes of some Jamaican, Costa Rican, and Mexican lizards. Herpetology Notes, 6, pp.591-597. Cooper, W.E., Whiting, M.J., Van Wyk, J.H. and Le FN Mouton, P., 1999. Movement-and attack-based indices of foraging mode and ambush foraging in some gekkonid and agamine lizards from southern Africa. Amphibia-Reptilia, 20(4), pp.391-399. Cummings, C., Gamble, T. and Wells, M., 2021. A comparison of the foraging biology of two tropical gecko species in disturbed areas. South American Journal of Herpetology, 19(1), pp.8-11. Halperin, T., Kalyuzhny, M. and Hawlena, D., 2018. How to use (and not to use) movement‐based indices for quantifying foraging behaviour. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(4), pp.1