access to females in male lizards,

Numerous lizard species use ranHal autotomy as an antipredator device even though diere must be significant costs during the period of tail regeneration- Strategies used by tailless individuals to enhance survival in natural populations are still poorly understood. We experimentally examine tail loss in large, dominant males of Psammodromus algirus in the middle of die breeding season in the field. We report data showing home range reduction of large dominant males after autotomy, reduction in the number of females in the home ranges of manipulated maW, and a potential increase in mating opportunities of small subordinate males with complete tails. We conclude that changes in home range use because of desertion of areas with less cover can result in decreased predation risk at the cost of decreased access to females. Key words: caudal autotomy, female access, home range, movements, Psammodromus algirus. [Bthav Ecol 6:382-387 (1995)] High activity and mobility during the reproductive seasonare characteristic traits of male behavior in numerous species of lizards (Stamps, 1983). Movements may be related to foraging and avoidance of predators, but these activities are also necessary during non-reproductive seasons. Higher mo-bility during the breeding season is mainly related to the at-tainment of high social status and mating access. Repeated searches of the home range increase the encounter rate o