PDF 4140.pdf | Request a copy Full text restricted

Abstract

In polymorphic male painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus), red males win staged contests for females over yellow males, and yellow males have greater success in staged sperm competition trials than red males. This predicts different reproductive strategies in the wild with red males being more coercive or better mate guarders than yellow males. Yellow males would be expected to sire more offspring per copulation and have a greater proportion of offspring from clutches with mixed paternity. However, here we show using microsatellites that the frequency of mixed paternity in the wild is low (< 20% on average across years), that all morphs on average have the same number of offspring sired per year, and that mating system variation (polyandry vs. monandry) is strongly correlated with perch density on male territories. Furthermore, a logistic regression on male successful vs. unsuccessful mate acquisition showed that red males were under negative selection when they dominated the population, which suggests ongoing frequency dependent selection on male colouration.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Olsson, M and Healey, M and Wapstra, E and Schwartz, T and Lebas, N and Uller, T
Keywords:	lizard • male polymorphism • mating system • reproductive success in the wild • territoriality • vigilance
Journal or Publication Title:	Molecular Ecology
Publisher:	Blackwell Publishing
ISSN:	0962-1083
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03578.x
Additional Information:	The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page