Behavioral and physiological polymorphism in males of the austral lizard Liolaemus sarmientoi

FERNÁNDEZ, JIMENA B.; ELIZABETH BASTIAANS; MARLIN MEDINA; FAUSTO MÉNDEZ-DE LA CRUZ; BARRY SINERVO; IBARGÜENGOYTÍA, NORA R.

JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2018

0340-7594

Integrative behavioral studies show that the interplay between individual physiology and social behavior influences theecology of the species, ultimately affecting individual fitness. Particularly in lizards, color polymorphism is associated withdifferential behaviors and reproductive strategies, which are evident in mature males during the mating season. Dominantmales generally have greater endurance, higher body temperature, and larger bodies than submissive males, so they canacquire and defend larger territories and have greater access to females for mating. We studied whether the color morphsobserved in males of one of the world?s southernmost reptiles, Liolaemus sarmientoi, are related to behavioral variation duringagonistic interactions, thermal physiology, morphology, and/or locomotor stamina. Liolaemus sarmientoi males exhibitthree color morphs: red (RR), red?yellow (RY), and yellow (YY). These lizards exhibit subtle behavioral displays and wedid not observe stamina differences among morphs. However, we found that RR males are more aggressive than YY malesduring agonistic encounters. In addition, greater body temperature change during trials, higher field body temperatures, andgreater head sizes of RR males compared to RY or YY indicate that RR is a dominant morph, which may influence theirability to acquire and defend territory and tactics for achieving reproductive success.