Naslov
Female lizards ignore the sweet scent of success: male characteristics implicated in female mate preference

Autori
Huyghe, Katleen ; Vanhooydonck, Bieke ; Herrel, Anthony ; Tadić, Zoran ; Van Damme, Raoul

Izvornik
Zoology (0944-2006) 115 (2012), 4; 217-222

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
sexual selection; female choice; male competition; lacertidae; performance

Sažetak
Sexual selection molds the morphology, physiology and behavior of males in many animals. At first glance, it seems reasonable to assume that females would use the same male traits and signals in mate choice, as males do during male-male competition. However, intra- and intersexual competition might affect traits in the same or opposite direction, with differing strength. We investigated which colour, morphometric and performance traits are selected for through male-male competition and whether female mate preference is based on these same traits and/or dominance status in the three male colour morphs of the lizard Podarcis melisellensis. Males with relatively bigger heads and relatively higher bite forces were more likely to win fights and orange males were always dominant over the other morphs. Females however preferred scents of bigger males that were in better body condition, and surprisingly had lower bite force capacities. They did not show a preference for scents of any particular colour morph or for scents of the more dominant males. These results indicate that intra- and intersexual competition could result in selection for different secondary sexual traits in P. melisellensis.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA