Sexual color ornamentation, microhabitat choice, and thermal physiology in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
1
Citation
79
Reference
10
Related Paper
Citation Trend
Abstract:
Abstract Common wall lizards ( Podarcis muralis ) in Italy show a striking variation in body coloration across the landscape, with highly exaggerated black and green colors in hot and dry climates and brown and white colors in cool and wet climates. Males are more intensely colored than females, and previous work has suggested that the maintenance of variation in coloration across the landscape reflects climatic effects on the strength of male–male competition, and through this sexual selection. However climatic effects on the intensity of male–male competition would need to be exceptionally strong to fully explain the geographic patterns of color variation. Thus, additional processes may contribute to the maintenance of color variation. Here we test the hypothesis that selection for green and black ornamentation in the context of male–male competition is opposed by selection against ornamentation because the genes involved in the regulation of coloration have pleiotropic effects on thermal physiology, such that ornamentation is selected against in cool climates. Field observations revealed no association between body coloration and microhabitat use or field active body temperatures. Consistent with these field data, lizards at the extreme ends of the phenotypic distribution for body coloration did not show any differences in critical minimum temperature, preferred body temperature, temperature‐dependent metabolic rate, or evaporative water loss when tested in the laboratory. Combined, these results provide no evidence that genes that underlie sexual ornamentation are selected against in cool climate because of pleiotropic effects on thermal biology.Cite
Citations (2)
Abstract Functional diversity of fish communities has been measured according to (a) interspecific variability, assuming that intraspecific variability is negligible, or (b) morphological differences, as good descriptors of complex functions, such as diet. These two assumptions have been scarcely tested on the individual level, especially in species‐rich tropical ecosystems. Here, we adapted intraspecific specialisation ( IS pe ) and intraspecific originality indices ( IO ri ) to assess complementary components of intraspecific variability. Next, we applied these indices to evaluate the intra‐ and interspecific variability of morphological and diet traits in two contrasting Brazilian stream‐dwelling fish assemblages (rainforest and savannah). We also compared correlations between morphology and diet at the individual and species level to test whether accounting for intraspecific variability increases the predictability of diet due to morphological differences. Significant contributions of intraspecific variability to differences between fish were revealed for morphology and diet. Intraspecific variability in the diet was higher than that in morphology in both assemblages. The IS pe was positively correlated to IO ri in the diet of both ecosystems. The morphological–dietary relationships were significant but weak at both individual and species levels. Our findings highlight the importance of measuring individual variability and accounting for complementary components of the intraspecific variability ( IS pe and IO ri ). Importantly, we showed that the variability in morphology does not predict diet variability at both intra‐ and interspecific levels. Thus, high intraspecific variability in morphology and diet challenges the use of functional traits measured at the species level to describe the functional diversity of different fish assemblages.
Morphology
Cite
Citations (23)
A new species of Liolaemus lizard from Northern Chile is described: Liolaemus hajeki. The new species can be related to the jamesi group of lizards of this genus, and, can be differentiated by the adult size, being smaller than the rest of the lizards belonging to the group. L. hajeki can be distinguished of L. jamesi because the latter has bigger dorsal scales; Liolaemus puritamensis and L. stolzmanni have dorsal pattern very different in comparison with L. hajeki.
Cite
Citations (0)
Abstract Variation in environmental factors plays a central role on organisms' physiological changes. However, the physiological response to predation risk has rarely been investigated in reptiles. Chemical senses are important for intraspecific communication in squamate reptiles. In male lizards Iberolacerta cyreni the maintenance of relative proportions of lipids in femoral gland secretions is costly, which may ensure honest signalling of quality. We hypothesized that increased predation risk should compromise the maintenance of such lipid proportions, as both a fear response and escaping behavior can have physiological consequences. We simulated predator attacks and found that relative proportions of lipids in femoral gland secretions changed in disturbed lizards but not in control ones. Thus, predator–prey interactions may modulate relative concentrations of chemicals in scents of lizards. Potential consequences of this effect on intraspecific chemical communication are suggested. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:427–433, 2008 . © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cite
Citations (15)
Variation (astronomy)
Morphometrics
Cite
Citations (1)
Oviparity
Lacertidae
Skink
Iguanidae
Reproductive cycle
Cite
Citations (18)
Teiidae
Cite
Citations (3)
Teiidae
Cite
Citations (5)
Plant interactions play key roles in coexistence, where intraspecific neighbors must compete more intensely than interspecific neighbors to promote species coexistence. But because plastic responses can alter traits and interactions, including intraspecific interactions, plasticity can hinder or promote species coexistence. Whether plasticity induced by different types of competitors can impact mechanisms of coexistence remains unknown. To address this, I used a transplant experiment to induce plastic responses with intraspecific or interspecific interactions. Then, I investigated the effects of the induced phenotype on new intraspecific interactions. The interspecific interaction treatment induced plastic responses, producing facilitative outcomes. In the subsequent intraspecific interactions, interspecific-induced individuals exhibited more competitive intraspecific interactions than intraspecific-induced individuals, even though the initial induced effect was positive. This study demonstrates that interspecific interactions may play an indirect role in stabilizing niche mechanisms via induced plasticity, furthering our understanding of how plastic responses impact interactions and species coexistence.
Coexistence theory
Storage effect
Cite
Citations (0)
A new species of anole of the Norops schiedei group is described from a cloud forest locality in northern Honduras. The new species is closely related to N. purpurgularis and N. johnmeyeri of Honduras, as well as to other members of the group from Mexico and Guatemala as recognized in a recent review of this group. Its combination of relatively large middorsal scales, unicarinate scales on the forelegs, enlarged postanals in males, well-developed parietal depression, and rose-colored dewlap with a central purplish spot readily distinguishes it from the remaining species in the schiedei group. RESUMEN. -Se describe una nueva especie de lagartija del grupo Norops schiedei de localidad bosque nublado en el norte de Honduras. La nueva especie es relacionada muy de cerca a N. purpurgularis y N. johnmeyeri de Honduras asi como tambien otros miembros del grupo de Mexico y Guatemala. Se distingue facilmente de los otros miembros del grupo schiedeipor sus escamas medio-dorsales relativamente grandes, escamas unicarinadas en el brazo, machos con postanales agrandadas, depresion parietal definido y papera de color rosado con una mancha central morada.
Cite
Citations (9)