1
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Amer A, Spears S, Vaughn PL, Colwell C, Livingston EH, McQueen W, Schill A, Reichard DG, Gangloff EJ, Brock KM. Physiological phenotypes differ among color morphs in introduced common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Integr Zool 2024; 19:505-523. [PMID: 37884464 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Many species exhibit color polymorphisms which have distinct physiological and behavioral characteristics. However, the consistency of morph trait covariation patterns across species, time, and ecological contexts remains unclear. This trait covariation is especially relevant in the context of invasion biology and urban adaptation. Specifically, physiological traits pertaining to energy maintenance are crucial to fitness, given their immediate ties to individual reproduction, growth, and population establishment. We investigated the physiological traits of Podarcis muralis, a versatile color polymorphic species that thrives in urban environments (including invasive populations in Ohio, USA). We measured five physiological traits (plasma corticosterone and triglycerides, hematocrit, body condition, and field body temperature), which compose an integrated multivariate phenotype. We then tested variation among co-occurring color morphs in the context of establishment in an urban environment. We found that the traits describing physiological status and strategy shifted across the active season in a morph-dependent manner-the white and yellow morphs exhibited clearly different multivariate physiological phenotypes, characterized primarily by differences in plasma corticosterone. This suggests that morphs have different strategies in physiological regulation, the flexibility of which is crucial to urban adaptation. The white-yellow morph exhibited an intermediate phenotype, suggesting an intermediary energy maintenance strategy. Orange morphs also exhibited distinct phenotypes, but the low prevalence of this morph in our study populations precludes clear interpretation. Our work provides insight into how differences among stable polymorphisms exist across axes of the phenotype and how this variation may aid in establishment within novel environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Amer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Sierra Spears
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Princeton L Vaughn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Cece Colwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Ethan H Livingston
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Wyatt McQueen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Anna Schill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
| | - Dustin G Reichard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Eric J Gangloff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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2
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Batabyal A, Zambre A, Mclaren T, Rankin KJ, Somaweera R, Stuart‐Fox D, Thaker M. The extent of rapid colour change in male agamid lizards is unrelated to overall sexual dichromatism. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10293. [PMID: 37435020 PMCID: PMC10329938 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic colour change is widespread in ectothermic animals, but has primarily been studied in the context of background matching. For most species, we lack quantitative data on the extent of colour change across different contexts. It is also unclear whether and how colour change varies across body regions, and how overall sexual dichromatism relates to the extent of individual colour change. In this study, we obtained reflectance measures in response to different stimuli for males and females of six species of agamid lizards (Agamidae, sister family to Chameleonidae) comprising three closely related species pairs. We computed the colour volume in a lizard-vision colour space occupied by males and females of each species and estimated overall sexual dichromatism based on the area of non-overlapping male and female colour volumes. As expected, males had larger colour volumes than females, but the extent of colour change in males differed between species and between body regions. Notably, species that were most sexually dichromatic were not necessarily those in which males showed the greatest individual colour change. Our results indicate that the extent of colour change is independent of the degree of sexual dichromatism and demonstrate that colour change on different body regions can vary substantially even between pairs of closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physical and Natural SciencesFLAME UniversityPuneIndia
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBengaluruIndia
| | - Amod Zambre
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBengaluruIndia
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Tess Mclaren
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Katrina J. Rankin
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ruchira Somaweera
- Stantec AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBengaluruIndia
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3
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Male color polymorphism in populations of reef geckos (Sphaerodactylus notatus) reduces the utility of visual signals in sex recognition. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03272-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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4
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Sex-specific morphs: the genetics and evolution of intra-sexual variation. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:44-52. [PMID: 35971002 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00524-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Sex-specific morphs exhibit discrete phenotypes, often including many disparate traits, that are observed in only one sex. These morphs have evolved independently in many different animals and are often associated with alternative mating strategies. The remarkable diversity of sex-specific morphs offers unique opportunities to understand the genetic basis of complex phenotypes, as the distinct nature of many morphs makes it easier to both categorize and compare genomes than for continuous traits. Sex-specific morphs also expand the study of sexual dimorphism beyond traditional bimodal comparisons of male and female averages, as they allow for a more expansive range of sexualization. Although ecological and endocrinological studies of sex-specific morphs have been advancing for some time, genomic and transcriptomic studies of morphs are far more recent. These studies reveal not only many different paths to the evolution of sex-specific morphs but also many commonalities, such as the role of sex-determining genes and hormone signalling in morph development, and the mixing of male and female traits within some morphs.
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5
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Colour morph predicts social behaviour and contest outcomes in a polymorphic lizard (Podarcis erhardii). Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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6
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Abstract
Abstract
Variation in color morph behavior is an important factor in the maintenance of color polymorphism. Alternative anti-predator behaviors are often associated with morphological traits such as coloration, possibly because predator-mediated viability selection favors certain combinations of anti-predator behavior and color. The Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, is color polymorphic and populations can have up to three monochromatic morphs: orange, yellow, and white. We investigated whether escape behaviors differ among coexisting color morphs, and if morph behaviors are repeatable across different populations with the same predator species. Specifically, we assessed color morph flight initiation distance (FID), distance to the nearest refuge (DNR), and distance to chosen refuge (DR) in two populations of Aegean wall lizards from Naxos island. We also analyzed the type of refugia color morphs selected and their re-emergence behavior following a standardized approach. We found that orange morphs have different escape behaviors from white and yellow morphs, and these differences are consistent in both populations we sampled. Orange morphs have shorter FIDs, DNRs, and DRs; select different refuge types; and re-emerge less often after being approached compared to white and yellow morphs. Observed differences in color morph escape behaviors support the idea that morphs have evolved alternative behavioral strategies that may play a role in population-level morph maintenance and loss.
Significance statement
Color polymorphic species often differ in behaviors related to reproduction, but differences in other behaviors are relatively underexplored. In this study, we use an experimental approach in two natural populations of color populations of color polymorphic lizards to determine that color morphs have diverged in their escape behaviors. By conducting our experiments in two different populations with similar predator regimes, we show for the first time that behavioral differences among intra-specific color morphs are repeatable across populations, suggesting that alternative behavioral strategies have evolved in this species. Using this experimental approach, we demonstrate that the brightest orange morph stays closer to refuge than other morphs, uses a different refuge type (vegetation) more often than other morphs (wall crevices), and take much longer to emerge from refuge after a simulated predation event than other morphs. Thus, selective pressures from visual predators may differ between morphs and play a role in the evolution and maintenance of color polymorphisms in these types of systems. Our study species, Podarcis erhardii, belongs to a highly color polymorphic genus (19/23 spp. are color polymorphic) that contains the same three color morphs, thus we believe our results may be relevant to more than just P. erhardii.
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7
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Abalos J, Pérez i de Lanuza G, Bartolomé A, Aubret F, Uller T, Font E. Viability, behavior, and color expression in the offspring of matings between common wall lizard Podarcis muralis color morphs. Curr Zool 2022; 68:41-55. [PMID: 35169628 PMCID: PMC8836344 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Abalos
- Ethology Lab, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Guillem Pérez i de Lanuza
- Ethology Lab, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alicia Bartolomé
- Ethology Lab, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fabien Aubret
- SETE, Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UPR2001, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Enrique Font
- Ethology Lab, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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8
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García‐Rosales A, Stephenson BP, Ramírez‐Bautista A, Manjarrez J, Pavón NP. Female choice and male aggression in the polymorphic lizard
Sceloporus minor. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron García‐Rosales
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones Centro de Investigación Biológica Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo Mineral de La Reforma Mexico
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Comportamiento Animal Departamento de Biología Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana‐Iztapalapa Iztapalapa Mexico
| | | | - Aurelio Ramírez‐Bautista
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones Centro de Investigación Biológica Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo Mineral de La Reforma Mexico
| | - Javier Manjarrez
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Bióticos Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Toluca Mexico
| | - Numa P. Pavón
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Comunidades Centro de Investigación Biológica Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo Mineral de La Reforma Mexico
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9
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Scali S, Mangiacotti M, Sacchi R, Coladonato AJ, Falaschi M, Saviano L, Rampoldi MG, Crozi M, Perotti C, Zucca F, Gozzo E, Zuffi MAL. Close encounters of the three morphs: Does color affect aggression in a polymorphic lizard? Aggress Behav 2021; 47:430-438. [PMID: 33682154 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Color polymorphism is genetically controlled, and the process generating and maintaining morphs can affect speciation/extinction rates. Color badges are useful signals in intraspecific communication because they convey information about alternative strategies and can potentially decrease unnecessary conflicts among different color morphs. Competition and aggressive interactions among color morphs can contribute to polymorphism maintenance. This could lead to an uneven spatial distribution of morphs in a population because the local frequency of each morph establishes the intensity of the competition and the fitness of each male. We used a polymorphic lizard, Podarcis muralis, to assess if aggression varies among morphs under two contrasting hypotheses: a heteromorphic versus homomorphic aggression. We used laboratory mirror tests after lizard color manipulation, and we verified the consistency of results with an analysis of the spatial distribution of morphs in a wild population. Both the experiments confirmed that aggression is more common during homomorphic than heteromorphic contests. The adoption of alternative behavioral strategies that minimize risks and costs could facilitate the stable coexistence of the phenotypes and reduce competition. A bias in aggression would advantage rarer morph, which would suffer less harassment by common morphs obtaining a fitness advantage. This process would be negatively-frequency-dependent and would stabilize polymorphism, possibly contributing to sympatric speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Scali
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology Natural History Museum of Milan Milano Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | | | - Mattia Falaschi
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milano Italy
| | - Luca Saviano
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology Natural History Museum of Milan Milano Italy
| | | | - Matteo Crozi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Cesare Perotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Francesco Zucca
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Elisabetta Gozzo
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology Natural History Museum of Milan Milano Italy
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10
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A fully segmented 3D anatomical atlas of a lizard brain. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1727-1741. [PMID: 33929568 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02282-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
As the relevance of lizards in evolutionary neuroscience increases, so does the need for more accurate anatomical references. Moreover, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evolutionary neuroscience is becoming more widespread; this represents a fundamental methodological shift that opens new avenues of investigative possibility but also poses new challenges. Here, we aim to facilitate this shift by providing a three-dimensional segmentation atlas of the tawny dragon brain. The tawny dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is an Australian lizard of increasing importance as a model system in ecology and, as a member of the agamid lizards, in evolution. Based on a consensus average 3D image generated from the MRIs of 13 male tawny dragon heads, we identify and segment 224 structures visible across the entire lizard brain. We describe the relevance of this atlas to the field of evolutionary neuroscience and propose further experiments for which this atlas can provide the foundation. This advance in defining lizard neuroanatomy will facilitate numerous studies in evolutionary neuroscience. The atlas is available for download as a supplementary material to this manuscript and through the Open Science Framework (OSF; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UJENQ ).
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11
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Dong CM, Johnston GR, Stuart-Fox D, Moussalli A, Rankin KJ, McLean CA. Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level. ICHTHYOLOGY AND HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1643/h2020064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Dong
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
| | - Greg R. Johnston
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia; South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia;
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
| | - Adnan Moussalli
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton Gardens, Victoria, 3053, Australia; (AM) ; and (CAM)
| | - Katrina J. Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
| | - Claire A. McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
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12
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Coladonato AJ, Mangiacotti M, Scali S, Zuffi MAL, Pasquariello C, Matellini C, Buratti S, Battaiola M, Sacchi R. Morph-specific seasonal variation of aggressive behaviour in a polymorphic lizard species. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10268. [PMID: 33240621 PMCID: PMC7682419 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of colour polymorphism (CP) within a given population is generally associated with the coexistence of alternative reproductive strategies, each one involving specific trade-offs among behavioural, morphological, physiological, and other life histories. Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), is a medium-sized diurnal lizard, showing CP in three main colours (yellow, white, and red) on throat and belly, and a morph-specific pattern for both immunocompetence and seasonal variation of T levels. Yellow males show low stamina with high plasma T levels at the beginning of the season, while white males show high stamina with a higher plasma T levels at the end of the season. We hypothesised the presence of two strategies: a risky one, characterised by high aggressiveness played by yellow-morph, and a conservative one by white morph with low aggressiveness. Thus, we tested the aggressive response to conspecifics of yellow and white morphs using a mirror inserted into their cage, mimicking an intrusion of a stranger in their territories, throughout the breeding season (from April to July, 117 trials). We considered three types of aggressive response, with different levels of aggressiveness: (i) bite against the image reflected in the mirror, (ii) seconds spent by the individuals into the half mirrored cage, and (iii) number of times the lizard entered the half mirrored cage. We also considered the number of tongue flicking as explorative behaviour variable. All lizards were tested after a period of acclimatisation to the captivity conditions. Results demonstrate that yellow males showed a higher aggressive response in the early season and a decrease aggressive response towards the end, whereas white males showed an opposite pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Cristian Matellini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Buratti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mara Battaiola
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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13
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Stuart‐Fox D, Aulsebrook A, Rankin KJ, Dong CM, McLean CA. Convergence and divergence in lizard colour polymorphisms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:289-309. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Anne Aulsebrook
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Katrina J. Rankin
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Caroline M. Dong
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Sciences Department Museums Victoria 11 Nicholson Street Carlton Gardens VIC 3053 Australia
| | - Claire A. McLean
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Sciences Department Museums Victoria 11 Nicholson Street Carlton Gardens VIC 3053 Australia
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14
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McLean CA, Bartle RA, Dong CM, Rankin KJ, Stuart-Fox D. Divergent male and female mate preferences do not explain incipient speciation between lizard lineages. Curr Zool 2020; 66:485-492. [PMID: 33293929 PMCID: PMC7705505 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diversification in sexual signals is often taken as evidence for the importance of sexual selection in speciation. However, in order for sexual selection to generate reproductive isolation between populations, both signals and mate preferences must diverge together. Furthermore, assortative mating may result from multiple behavioral mechanisms, including female mate preferences, male mate preferences, and male–male competition; yet their relative contributions are rarely evaluated. Here, we explored the role of mate preferences and male competitive ability as potential barriers to gene flow between 2 divergent lineages of the tawny dragon lizard, Ctenophorus decresii, which differ in male throat coloration. We found stronger behavioral barriers to pairings between southern lineage males and northern lineage females than between northern males and southern females, indicating incomplete and asymmetric behavioral isolating barriers. These results were driven by both male and female mate preferences rather than lineage differences in male competitive ability. Intrasexual selection is therefore unlikely to drive the outcome of secondary contact in C. decresii, despite its widely acknowledged importance in lizards. Our results are consistent with the emerging view that although both male and female mate preferences can diverge alongside sexual signals, speciation is rarely driven by divergent sexual selection alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.,Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
| | - Richard A Bartle
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Caroline M Dong
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.,Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
| | - Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
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15
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Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
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16
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Wollenberg Valero KC, Marshall JC, Bastiaans E, Caccone A, Camargo A, Morando M, Niemiller ML, Pabijan M, Russello MA, Sinervo B, Werneck FP, Sites JW, Wiens JJ, Steinfartz S. Patterns, Mechanisms and Genetics of Speciation in Reptiles and Amphibians. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10090646. [PMID: 31455040 PMCID: PMC6769790 DOI: 10.3390/genes10090646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this contribution, the aspects of reptile and amphibian speciation that emerged from research performed over the past decade are reviewed. First, this study assesses how patterns and processes of speciation depend on knowing the taxonomy of the group in question, and discuss how integrative taxonomy has contributed to speciation research in these groups. This study then reviews the research on different aspects of speciation in reptiles and amphibians, including biogeography and climatic niches, ecological speciation, the relationship between speciation rates and phenotypic traits, and genetics and genomics. Further, several case studies of speciation in reptiles and amphibians that exemplify many of these themes are discussed. These include studies of integrative taxonomy and biogeography in South American lizards, ecological speciation in European salamanders, speciation and phenotypic evolution in frogs and lizards. The final case study combines genomics and biogeography in tortoises. The field of amphibian and reptile speciation research has steadily moved forward from the assessment of geographic and ecological aspects, to incorporating other dimensions of speciation, such as genetic mechanisms and evolutionary forces. A higher degree of integration among all these dimensions emerges as a goal for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathon C Marshall
- Department of Zoology, Weber State University, 1415 Edvalson Street, Dept. 2505, Ogden, UT 84401, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bastiaans
- Department of Biology, State University of New York, College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820, USA
| | - Adalgisa Caccone
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Arley Camargo
- Centro Universitario de Rivera, Universidad de la República, Ituzaingó 667, Rivera 40000, Uruguay
| | - Mariana Morando
- Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC, CENPAT-CONICET) Bv. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn U9120ACD, Argentina
| | - Matthew L Niemiller
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
| | - Maciej Pabijan
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michael A Russello
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 3247 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Barry Sinervo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Coastal Biology Building, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Fernanda P Werneck
- Programa de Coleções Científicas Biológicas, Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus 69060-000, Brazil
| | - Jack W Sites
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - John J Wiens
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Sebastian Steinfartz
- Molecular Evolution and Systematics of Animals, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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17
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Yewers MSC, Stuart‐Fox D, McLean CA. Space use and genetic structure do not maintain color polymorphism in a species with alternative behavioral strategies. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:295-306. [PMID: 30680114 PMCID: PMC6342114 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Space use including territoriality and spatial arrangement within a population can reveal important information on the nature, dynamics, and evolutionary maintenance of alternative strategies in color polymorphic species. Despite the prevalence of color polymorphic species as model systems in evolutionary biology, the interaction between space use and genetic structuring of morphs within populations has rarely been examined. Here, we assess the spatial and genetic structure of male throat color morphs within a population of the tawny dragon lizard, Ctenophorus decresii. Male color morphs do not differ in morphology but differ in aggressive and antipredator behaviors as well as androgen levels. Despite these behavioral and endocrine differences, we find that color morphs do not differ in territory size, with their spatial arrangement being essentially random with respect to each other. There were no differences in genetic diversity or relatedness between morphs; however, there was significant, albeit weak, genetic differentiation between morphs, which was unrelated to geographic distance between individuals. Our results indicate potential weak barriers to gene flow between some morphs, potentially due to nonrandom pre- or postcopulatory mate choice or postzygotic genetic incompatibilities. However, space use, spatial structure, and nonrandom mating do not appear to be primary mechanisms maintaining color polymorphism in this system, highlighting the complexity and variation in alternative strategies associated with color polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Claire Alice McLean
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Sciences Department, Museum VictoriaCarlton GardensVictoriaAustralia
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18
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Hoops D, Desfilis E, Ullmann JFP, Janke AL, Stait-Gardner T, Devenyi GA, Price WS, Medina L, Whiting MJ, Keogh JS. A 3D MRI-based atlas of a lizard brain. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2511-2547. [PMID: 29931765 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an established technique for neuroanatomical analysis, being particularly useful in the medical sciences. However, the application of MRI to evolutionary neuroscience is still in its infancy. Few magnetic resonance brain atlases exist outside the standard model organisms in neuroscience and no magnetic resonance atlas has been produced for any reptile brain. A detailed understanding of reptilian brain anatomy is necessary to elucidate the evolutionary origin of enigmatic brain structures such as the cerebral cortex. Here, we present a magnetic resonance atlas for the brain of a representative squamate reptile, the Australian tawny dragon (Agamidae: Ctenophorus decresii), which has been the subject of numerous ecological and behavioral studies. We used a high-field 11.74T magnet, a paramagnetic contrasting-enhancing agent and minimum-deformation modeling of the brains of thirteen adult male individuals. From this, we created a high-resolution three-dimensional model of a lizard brain. The 3D-MRI model can be freely downloaded and allows a better comprehension of brain areas, nuclei, and fiber tracts, facilitating comparison with other species and setting the basis for future comparative evolution imaging studies. The MRI model and atlas of a tawny dragon brain (Ctenophorus decresii) can be viewed online and downloaded using the Wiley Biolucida Server at wiley.biolucida.net.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hoops
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ester Desfilis
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Fundació Dr. Pifarré (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Jeremy F P Ullmann
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew L Janke
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Timothy Stait-Gardner
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - William S Price
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Loreta Medina
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Fundació Dr. Pifarré (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Martin J Whiting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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19
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Hacking JD, Stuart‐Fox D, Godfrey SS, Gardner MG. Specific MHC class I supertype associated with parasite infection and color morph in a wild lizard population. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:9920-9933. [PMID: 30386586 PMCID: PMC6202711 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a large gene family that plays a central role in the immune system of all jawed vertebrates. Nonavian reptiles are underrepresented within the MHC literature and little is understood regarding the mechanisms maintaining MHC diversity in this vertebrate group. Here, we examined the relative roles of parasite-mediated selection and sexual selection in maintaining MHC class I diversity of a color polymorphic lizard. We discovered evidence for parasite-mediated selection acting via rare-allele advantage or fluctuating selection as ectoparasite load was significantly lower in the presence of a specific MHC supertype (functional clustering of alleles): supertype four. Based on comparisons between ectoparasite prevalence and load, and assessment of the impact of ectoparasite load on host fitness, we suggest that supertype four confers quantitative resistance to ticks or an intracellular tickborne parasite. We found no evidence for MHC-associated mating in terms of pair genetic distance, number of alleles, or specific supertypes. An association was uncovered between supertype four and male throat color morph. However, it is unlikely that male throat coloration acts as a signal of MHC genotype to conspecifics because we found no evidence to suggest that male throat coloration predicts male mating status. Overall, our results suggest that parasite-mediated selection plays a role in maintaining MHC diversity in this population via rare-allele advantage and/or fluctuating selection. Further work is required to determine whether sexual selection also plays a role in maintaining MHC diversity in agamid lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D. Hacking
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Michael G. Gardner
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Evolutionary Biology UnitSouth Australian MuseumAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
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20
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Raulo A, Dantzer B. Associations between glucocorticoids and sociality across a continuum of vertebrate social behavior. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:7697-7716. [PMID: 30151183 PMCID: PMC6106170 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The causes and consequences of individual differences in animal behavior and stress physiology are increasingly studied in wild animals, yet the possibility that stress physiology underlies individual variation in social behavior has received less attention. In this review, we bring together these study areas and focus on understanding how the activity of the vertebrate neuroendocrine stress axis (HPA-axis) may underlie individual differences in social behavior in wild animals. We first describe a continuum of vertebrate social behaviors spanning from initial social tendencies (proactive behavior) to social behavior occurring in reproductive contexts (parental care, sexual pair-bonding) and lastly to social behavior occurring in nonreproductive contexts (nonsexual bonding, group-level cooperation). We then perform a qualitative review of existing literature to address the correlative and causal association between measures of HPA-axis activity (glucocorticoid levels or GCs) and each of these types of social behavior. As expected, elevated HPA-axis activity can inhibit social behavior associated with initial social tendencies (approaching conspecifics) and reproduction. However, elevated HPA-axis activity may also enhance more elaborate social behavior outside of reproductive contexts, such as alloparental care behavior. In addition, the effect of GCs on social behavior can depend upon the sociality of the stressor (cause of increase in GCs) and the severity of stress (extent of increase in GCs). Our review shows that the while the associations between stress responses and sociality are diverse, the role of HPA-axis activity behind social behavior may shift toward more facilitating and less inhibiting in more social species, providing insight into how stress physiology and social systems may co-evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aura Raulo
- Department of BiosciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Zoology DepartmentUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichigan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichigan
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21
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Hacking J, Bertozzi T, Moussalli A, Bradford T, Gardner M. Characterisation of major histocompatibility complex class I transcripts in an Australian dragon lizard. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 84:164-171. [PMID: 29454831 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Characterisation of squamate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes has lagged behind other taxonomic groups. MHC genes encode cell-surface glycoproteins that present self- and pathogen-derived peptides to T cells and play a critical role in pathogen recognition. Here we characterise MHC class I transcripts for an agamid lizard (Ctenophorus decresii) and investigate the evolution of MHC class I in Iguanian lizards. An iterative assembly strategy was used to identify six full-length C. decresii MHC class I transcripts, which were validated as likely to encode classical class I MHC molecules. Evidence for exon shuffling recombination was uncovered for C. decresii transcripts and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of Iguanian MHC class I sequences revealed a pattern expected under a birth-and-death mode of evolution. This work provides a stepping stone towards further research on the agamid MHC class I region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Hacking
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia.
| | - Terry Bertozzi
- Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
| | - Adnan Moussalli
- Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, Carlton Gardens, VIC, 3053, Australia.
| | - Tessa Bradford
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia; Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
| | - Michael Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia; Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
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22
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Putman BJ, Azure KR, Swierk L. Dewlap size in male water anoles associates with consistent inter-individual variation in boldness. Curr Zool 2018; 65:189-195. [PMID: 30936908 PMCID: PMC6430965 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Male sexually selected signals can indicate competitive ability by honestly signaling fitness-relevant traits such as condition or performance. However, behavior can also influence contest outcomes; in particular, boldness often predicts dominance rank and mating success. Here, we sought to determine whether male ornament size is associated with consistent individual differences in boldness in water anoles Anolis aquaticus. We measured the relative size of the dewlap, a flap of skin under the chin that is a sexually selected ornament in Anolis lizards, and tested for associations with responses to a novel and potentially risky environment: time to emerge from a refuge into an arena and number of head scans post-emergence. We found that individuals consistently differed in both time to emerge and head scanning (i.e., individual responses were repeatable), and that dewlap size was negatively related to number of head scans. This suggests that ornament size could indicate male boldness if scanning represents antipredator vigilance. We found that males that had larger relative dewlaps were also in better body condition, but boldness (i.e., head scanning) was not related to condition. Lastly, we found consistent differences in behavior between trials, showing that anoles were becoming habituated or sensitized to the testing arena. Overall, our study shows that in addition to indicating condition and performance, dewlap size could also honestly indicate male boldness in Anolis lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna J Putman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Section of Herpetology, and Urban Nature Research Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kylee R Azure
- Environmental Science Department, Aaniiih Nakoda College, Harlem, MT, USA
| | - Lindsey Swierk
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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23
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Hernández‐Gallegos O, Granados‐González G, Rheubert JL, Villagrán‐SantaCruz M, Peña‐Herrera E, Gribbins KM. Lack of spermatogenic variation in a polymorphic lizard,
Sceloporus aeneus
(Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/azo.12258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oswaldo Hernández‐Gallegos
- Facultad de CienciasLaboratorio de HerpetologíaInstituto Literario # 100Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Toluca México
| | - Gisela Granados‐González
- Facultad de CienciasLaboratorio de Morfofisiología de la ReproducciónInstituto Literario # 100Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Toluca México
| | | | - Maricela Villagrán‐SantaCruz
- Facultad de CienciasDepartamento de Biología ComparadaLaboratorio de Biología Tisular y ReproductoraUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Eric Peña‐Herrera
- Facultad de CienciasLaboratorio de Morfofisiología de la ReproducciónInstituto Literario # 100Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Toluca México
| | - Kevin M. Gribbins
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana
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24
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Bohórquez-Alonso ML, Mesa-Avila G, Suárez-Rancel M, Font E, Molina-Borja M. Predictors of contest outcome in males of two subspecies of Gallotia galloti (Squamata: Lacertidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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25
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Behavioral and physiological polymorphism in males of the austral lizard Liolaemus sarmientoi. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 204:219-230. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1233-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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26
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Lewis AC, Rankin KJ, Pask AJ, Stuart-Fox D. Stress-induced changes in color expression mediated by iridophores in a polymorphic lizard. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8262-8272. [PMID: 29075447 PMCID: PMC5648675 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 06/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important potential factor mediating a broad range of cellular pathways, including those involved in condition‐dependent (i.e., honest) color signal expression. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the relationship between stress and color expression are largely unknown. We artificially elevated circulating corticosterone levels in male tawny dragon lizards, Ctenophorus decresii, to assess the effect of stress on the throat color signal. Corticosterone treatment increased luminance (paler throat coloration) and decreased the proportion of gray, thereby influencing the gray reticulations that produce unique patterning. The magnitude of change in luminance for corticosterone‐treated individuals in our study was around 6 “just noticeable differences” to the tawny dragon visual system, suggesting that lizards are likely to be able to perceive the measured variation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of iridophore cells indicated that luminance increased with increasing density of iridophore cells and increased spacing (and/or reduced size) of crystalline guanine platelets within them. Crystal spacing within iridophores also differed between skin colors, being greater in cream than either gray or yellow skin and greater in orange than yellow skin. Our results demonstrate that stress detectably impacts signal expression (luminance and patterning), which may provide information on individual condition. This effect is likely to be mediated, at least in part, by structural coloration produced by iridophore cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Lewis
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
| | - Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
| | - Andrew J Pask
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
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27
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Jacquin L, Gauthey Z, Roussille V, Le Hénaff M, Tentelier C, Labonne J. Melanin in a changing world: brown trout coloration reflects alternative reproductive strategies in variable environments. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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28
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Franklin AM, Applegate MB, Lewis SM, Omenetto FG. Stomatopods detect and assess achromatic cues in contests. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
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29
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Yewers MSC, Jessop TS, Stuart-Fox D. Endocrine differences among colour morphs in a lizard with alternative behavioural strategies. Horm Behav 2017; 93:118-127. [PMID: 28478216 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Alternative behavioural strategies of colour morphs are expected to associate with endocrine differences and to correspond to differences in physical performance (e.g. movement speed, bite force in lizards); yet the nature of correlated physiological and performance traits in colour polymorphic species varies widely. Colour morphs of male tawny dragon lizards Ctenophorus decresii have previously been found to differ in aggressive and anti-predator behaviours. We tested whether known behavioural differences correspond to differences in circulating baseline and post-capture stress levels of androgen and corticosterone, as well as bite force (an indicator of aggressive performance) and field body temperature. Immediately after capture, the aggressive orange morph had higher circulating androgen than the grey morph or the yellow morph. Furthermore, the orange morph maintained high androgen following acute stress (30min of capture); whereas androgen increased in the grey and yellow morphs. This may reflect the previously defined behavioural differences among morphs as the aggressive response of the yellow morph is conditional on the colour of the competitor and the grey morph shows consistently low aggression. In contrast, all morphs showed an increase in corticosterone concentration after capture stress and morphs did not differ in levels of corticosterone stress magnitude (CSM). Morphs did not differ in size- and temperature-corrected bite force but did in body temperature at capture. Differences in circulating androgen and body temperature are consistent with morph-specific behavioural strategies in C. decresii but our results indicate a complex relationship between hormones, behaviour, temperature and bite force within and between colour morphs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim S Jessop
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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30
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McDiarmid CS, Friesen CR, Ballen C, Olsson M. Sexual coloration and sperm performance in the Australian painted dragon lizard,
Ctenophorus pictus. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1303-1312. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. S. McDiarmid
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - C. R. Friesen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - C. Ballen
- College of Biological Sciences University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - M. Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Göteborg University Göteborg Sweden
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31
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McLean CA, Lutz A, Rankin KJ, Stuart-Fox D, Moussalli A. Revealing the Biochemical and Genetic Basis of Color Variation in a Polymorphic Lizard. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:1924-1935. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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32
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Hoops D, Ullmann JFP, Janke AL, Vidal-Garcia M, Stait-Gardner T, Dwihapsari Y, Merkling T, Price WS, Endler JA, Whiting MJ, Keogh JS. Sexual selection predicts brain structure in dragon lizards. J Evol Biol 2016; 30:244-256. [PMID: 27696584 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic traits such as ornaments and armaments are generally shaped by sexual selection, which often favours larger and more elaborate males compared to females. But can sexual selection also influence the brain? Previous studies in vertebrates report contradictory results with no consistent pattern between variation in brain structure and the strength of sexual selection. We hypothesize that sexual selection will act in a consistent way on two vertebrate brain regions that directly regulate sexual behaviour: the medial preoptic nucleus (MPON) and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN). The MPON regulates male reproductive behaviour whereas the VMN regulates female reproductive behaviour and is also involved in male aggression. To test our hypothesis, we used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging combined with traditional histology of brains in 14 dragon lizard species of the genus Ctenophorus that vary in the strength of precopulatory sexual selection. Males belonging to species that experience greater sexual selection had a larger MPON and a smaller VMN. Conversely, females did not show any patterns of variation in these brain regions. As the volumes of both these regions also correlated with brain volume (BV) in our models, we tested whether they show the same pattern of evolution in response to changes in BV and found that the do. Therefore, we show that the primary brain nuclei underlying reproductive behaviour in vertebrates can evolve in a mosaic fashion, differently between males and females, likely in response to sexual selection, and that these same regions are simultaneously evolving in concert in relation to overall brain size.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hoops
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - J F P Ullmann
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - A L Janke
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - M Vidal-Garcia
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - T Stait-Gardner
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Y Dwihapsari
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - T Merkling
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - W S Price
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - J A Endler
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Vic., Australia
| | - M J Whiting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Discipline of Brain, Behavior and Evolution, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J S Keogh
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
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Rankin KJ, McLean CA, Kemp DJ, Stuart-Fox D. The genetic basis of discrete and quantitative colour variation in the polymorphic lizard, Ctenophorus decresii. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:179. [PMID: 27600682 PMCID: PMC5012029 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0757-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colour polymorphic species provide invaluable insight into processes that generate and maintain intra-specific variation. Despite an increasing understanding of the genetic basis of discrete morphs, sources of colour variation within morphs remain poorly understood. Here we use the polymorphic tawny dragon lizard Ctenophorus decresii to test simple Mendelian models for the inheritance of discrete morphs, and to investigate the genetic basis of continuous variation among individuals across morphs. Males of this species express either orange, yellow, orange surrounded by yellow, or grey throats. Although four discrete morphs are recognised, the extent of orange and yellow varies greatly. We artificially elevated testosterone in F0 females and F1 juveniles to induce them to express the male throat colour polymorphism, and quantified colour variation across the pedigree. Results Inheritance of discrete morphs in C. decresii best fit a model whereby two autosomal loci with complete dominance respectively determine the presence of orange and yellow. However, a single locus model with three co-dominant alleles for orange, yellow and grey could not be definitively rejected. Additionally, quantitative expression of the proportion of orange and yellow on the throat was strongly heritable (orange: h2 = 0.84 ± 0.14; yellow: h2 = 0.67 ± 0.19), with some evidence for covariance between the two. Conclusions Our study supports the theoretical prediction that polymorphism should be governed by few genes of major effect, but implies broader genetic influence on variation in constituent morph traits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0757-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Claire A McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Department of Sciences, Museum Victoria, Carlton Gardens, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Darrell J Kemp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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Abalos J, Pérez i de Lanuza G, Carazo P, Font E. The role of male coloration in the outcome of staged contests in the European common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Colour signals play a key role in regulating the intensity and outcome of animal contests. Males of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) show conspicuous ventrolateral ultraviolet (UV)-blue and black patches. In addition, some populations express a striking ventral colour polymorphism (i.e., discrete orange, white and yellow morphs). In this study, we set out to evaluate the potential signalling function of these colour patches by staging pairwise combats between 60 size-matched adult lizards (20 per morph). Combats were held in a neutral arena, with each lizard facing rivals from the three morphs in a tournament with a balanced design. We then calculated a fighting ability ranking using the Bradley–Terry model, and used it to explore whether ventral colour morph, the size of UV-blue and black patches or the spectral characteristics of UV-blue patches (i.e., brightness, hue, chroma) are good predictors of fighting ability. We did not find an effect of the UV-blue patches on contest outcome, but the size of black patches emerged as a good predictor of fighting ability. We also found that winners were more aggressive when facing rivals with black patches of similar size, suggesting that black patches play a role in rival assessment and fighting rules. Finally, we found that orange males lost fights against heteromorphic males more often than yellow or white males. In light of these results, we discuss the potential signalling function of ventrolateral and ventral colour patches in mediating agonistic encounters in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Abalos
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia
- Centro de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - G. Pérez i de Lanuza
- Centro de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - P. Carazo
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, Tinbergen Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - E. Font
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia
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