| 1. |
- Abalos, Javier, et al.
(författare)
-
No evidence for differential sociosexual behavior and space use in the color morphs of the European common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 10:20, s. 10986-11005
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Explaining the evolutionary origin and maintenance of color polymorphisms is a major challenge in evolutionary biology. Such polymorphisms are commonly thought to reflect the existence of alternative behavioral or life-history strategies under negative frequency-dependent selection. The European common wall lizard Podarcis muralis exhibits a striking ventral color polymorphism that has been intensely studied and is often assumed to reflect alternative reproductive strategies, similar to the iconic “rock–paper–scissors” system described in the North American lizard Uta stansburiana. However, available studies so far have ignored central aspects in the behavioral ecology of this species that are crucial to assess the existence of alternative reproductive strategies. Here, we try to fill this gap by studying the social behavior, space use, and reproductive performance of lizards showing different color morphs, both in a free-ranging population from the eastern Pyrenees and in ten experimental mesocosm enclosures. In the natural population, we found no differences between morphs in site fidelity, space use, or male–female spatial overlap. Likewise, color morph was irrelevant to sociosexual behavior, space use, and reproductive success within experimental enclosures. Our results contradict the commonly held hypothesis that P. muralis morphs reflect alternative behavioral strategies, and suggest that we should instead turn our attention to alternative functional explanations.
|
|
| 2. |
- Abalos, Javier, et al.
(författare)
-
Viability, behavior, and color expression in the offspring of matings between common wall lizard Podarcis muralis color morphs
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Current Zoology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1674-5507 .- 2396-9814. ; 68:1, s. 41-55
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Color polymorphisms are widely studied to identify the mechanisms responsible for the origin and maintenance of phenotypic variability in nature. Two of the mechanisms of balancing selection currently thought to explain the long-term persistence of polymorphisms are the evolution of alternative phenotypic optima through correlational selection on suites of traits including color and heterosis. Both of these mechanisms can generate differences in offspring viability and fitness arising from different morph combinations. Here, we examined the effect of parental morph combination on fertilization success, embryonic viability, newborn quality, antipredator, and foraging behavior, as well as inter-annual survival by conducting controlled matings in a polymorphic lacertid Podarcis muralis, where color morphs are frequently assumed to reflect alternative phenotypic optima (e.g., alternative reproductive strategies). Juveniles were kept in outdoor tubs for a year in order to study inter-annual growth, survival, and morph inheritance. In agreement with a previous genome-wide association analysis, morph frequencies in the year-old juveniles matched the frequencies expected if orange and yellow expressions depended on recessive homozygosity at 2 separate loci. Our findings also agree with previous literature reporting higher reproductive output of heavy females and the higher overall viability of heavy newborn lizards, but we found no evidence for the existence of alternative breeding investment strategies in female morphs, or morph-combination effects on offspring viability and behavior. We conclude that inter-morph breeding remains entirely viable and genetic incompatibilities are of little significance for the maintenance of discrete color morphs in P. muralis from the Pyrenees.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Leonard, Aoife, et al.
(författare)
-
A global initiative for ecological and evolutionary hologenomics
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. - 0169-5347. ; 39:7, s. 616-620
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Earth Hologenome Initiative (EHI) is a global collaboration to generate and analyse hologenomic data from wild animals and associated microorganisms using standardised methodologies underpinned by open and inclusive research principles. Initially focused on vertebrates, it aims to re-examine ecological and evolutionary questions by studying host–microbiota interactions from a systemic perspective.
|
|
| 5. |
- Nicolaï, Michaël P J, et al.
(författare)
-
The function and consequences of fluorescence in tetrapods
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - 1091-6490. ; 121:24, s. 2318189121-2318189121
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fluorescence, the optical phenomenon whereby short-wavelength light is absorbed and emitted at longer wavelengths, has been widely described in aquatic habitats, in both invertebrates and fish. Recent years have seen a stream of articles reporting fluorescence, ranging from frogs, platypus, to even fully terrestrial organisms such as flying squirrels, often explicitly or implicitly linking the presence of fluorescence with sexual selection and communication. However, many of these studies fail to consider the physiological requirements of evolutionary stable signaling systems, the environmental dependence of perception, or the possible adaptive role of fluorescent coloration in a noncommunicative context. More importantly, the idea that fluorescence may simply constitute an indirect by-product of selection on other traits is often not explored. This is especially true for terrestrial systems where environmental light conditions are often not amenable for fluorescent signaling in contrast to, for example, aquatic habitats in which spectral properties of water promote functional roles for fluorescence. Despite the appeal of previously unknown ways in which coloration may drive evolution, the investigation of a putative role of fluorescence in communication must be tempered by a realistic understanding of its limitations. Here, we not only highlight and discuss the key body of literature but also address the potential pitfalls when reporting fluorescence and how to solve them. In addition, we propose exciting different research avenues to advance the field of tetrapod fluorescence.
|
|
| 6. |
- Yang, Weizhao, et al.
(författare)
-
Population Genomics of Wall Lizards Reflects the Dynamic History of the Mediterranean Basin
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Molecular biology and evolution. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0737-4038 .- 1537-1719. ; 39:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Mediterranean Basin has experienced extensive change in geology and climate over the past six million years. Yet, the relative importance of key geological events for the distribution and genetic structure of the Mediterranean fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we use population genomic and phylogenomic analyses to establish the evolutionary history and genetic structure of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). This species is particularly informative because, in contrast to other Mediterranean lizards, it is widespread across the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas, and in extra-Mediterranean regions. We found strong support for six major lineages within P. muralis, which were largely discordant with the phylogenetic relationship of mitochondrial DNA. The most recent common ancestor of extant P. muralis was likely distributed in the Italian Peninsula, and experienced an "Out-of-Italy" expansion following the Messinian salinity crisis (∼5 Mya), resulting in the differentiation into the extant lineages on the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas. Introgression analysis revealed that both inter- and intraspecific gene flows have been pervasive throughout the evolutionary history of P. muralis. For example, the Southern Italy lineage has a hybrid origin, formed through admixture between the Central Italy lineage and an ancient lineage that was the sister to all other P. muralis. More recent genetic differentiation is associated with the onset of the Quaternary glaciations, which influenced population dynamics and genetic diversity of contemporary lineages. These results demonstrate the pervasive role of Mediterranean geology and climate for the evolutionary history and population genetic structure of extant species.
|
|
