Morph-specific assortative mating in common wall
lizard females
Roberto Sacchi;Alan Jioele Coladonato;Michele Ghitti;Marco Mangiacotti;Stefano Scali;Matteo Bovo;Marco Zuffi
【期刊名称】《动物学报（英文版）》 【年(卷),期】2018(064)004
【摘要】Color polymorphism often is associated with alternative reproductive strategies and may reflect different adaptive optima that coexist within populations. The equilibrium among morph frequencies is maintained by the occurrence of opposite selective pressures (disruptive vs. stabilizing), which promote polymorphism while preserving gene flow. Sexual selection may contribute on both sides, particularly when morphs do not mate randomly. Reptiles offer a good model, notably lizards. Nevertheless, previous studies on mate choice in polymorphic lizards have generated contrasting results, with some studies suggesting that female morphs might tune their preference depending on
environmental/social
conditions
such
as
crowding.
We
experimentally manipulated the number of individuals a female common wall lizard Podarcis mural is perceives around her, to test if females of different morphs (white or yellow) tune their choice for white and yellow males in order to maximize the probability that hatchlings follow the strategy best adapted to the population density. Results
Morph-specific assortative mating in common wall lizard females
