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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Sherpa S, Paris JR, Silva‐Rocha I, Di Canio V, Carretero MA, Ficetola GF, Salvi D. Genetic depletion does not prevent rapid evolution in island-introduced lizards. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10721. [PMID: 38034325 PMCID: PMC10682264 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10721] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental introductions of species have provided some of the most tractable examples of rapid phenotypic changes, which may reflect plasticity, the impact of stochastic processes, or the action of natural selection. Yet to date, very few studies have investigated the neutral and potentially adaptive genetic impacts of experimental introductions. We dissect the role of these processes in shaping the population differentiation of wall lizards in three Croatian islands (Sušac, Pod Kopište, and Pod Mrčaru), including the islet of Pod Mrčaru, where experimentally introduced lizards underwent rapid (~30 generations) phenotypic changes associated with a shift from an insectivorous to a plant-based diet. Using a genomic approach (~82,000 ddRAD loci), we confirmed a founder effect during introduction and very low neutral genetic differentiation between the introduced population and its source. However, genetic depletion did not prevent rapid population growth, as the introduced lizards exhibited population genetic signals of expansion and are known to have reached a high density. Our genome-scan analysis identified just a handful of loci showing large allelic shifts between ecologically divergent populations. This low overall signal of selection suggests that the extreme phenotypic differences observed among populations are determined by a small number of large-effect loci and/or that phenotypic plasticity plays a major role in phenotypic changes. Nonetheless, functional annotation of the outlier loci revealed some candidate genes relevant to diet-induced adaptation, in agreement with the hypothesis of directional selection. Our study provides important insights on the evolutionary potential of bottlenecked populations in response to new selective pressures on short ecological timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Sherpa
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanoItaly
| | - Josephine R. Paris
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Sanità Pubblica, Scienze della Vita e dell'AmbienteUniversità degli Studi dell'AquilaL'Aquila‐CoppitoItaly
| | - Iolanda Silva‐Rocha
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO), InBIO Laboratório AssociadoUniversidade do PortoVairãoPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIOVairãoPortugal
| | - Viola Di Canio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanoItaly
| | - Miguel Angel Carretero
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO), InBIO Laboratório AssociadoUniversidade do PortoVairãoPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIOVairãoPortugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | | | - Daniele Salvi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Sanità Pubblica, Scienze della Vita e dell'AmbienteUniversità degli Studi dell'AquilaL'Aquila‐CoppitoItaly
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3
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Molina-Borja M, Bohórquez-Alonso ML. Morphology, Behaviour and Evolution of Gallotia Lizards from the Canary Islands. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2319. [PMID: 37508096 PMCID: PMC10376385 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
We summarize, here, the results from several studies conducted over many years on several endemic species of lizards (genus Gallotia) from the Canary Islands. Quantitative analyses show clear differences both among the species of every island and populations within each species. Sexual dimorphism exists in all analysed species, and a phylogenetic analysis shows that the degree of dimorphism did not change along the evolutionary history of the Canary Islands: species with large and small body sizes have a similar degree of sexual dimorphism, with male body size changes closely following those undergone by females. In G. caesaris (from El Hierro and La Gomera islands) and in G. stehlini (from Gran Canaria), longer hind limb length was correlated with more open habitats. Within most species, males are more conspicuous than females, mainly in terms of body size, behaviour and coloration pattern. Lateral colour spots are blue in most species and green in others. In G. galloti from Tenerife, male lateral spots have larger spot areas and percentage of reflectance in the ultraviolet/blue part of the spectrum than females. This trait shows a monthly variation along April to July, both in males and females, its magnitude being larger in May-June. Behaviour analysis, especially in the last species, shows a great diversity in behaviour patterns, and analysis of intrasexual male competition revealed that contest outcome depends on several morphological and colouration characteristics but mainly on the individual's behaviour. Detailed behavioural analyses were useful for managing a few captive individuals of the highly endangered G. bravoana from La Gomera island. Experimental analyses of some behaviours in the endemic Hierro island lizard (G. simonyi, in danger of extinction) show that individuals may learn to recognize predator models and increase their running speeds with training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Molina-Borja
- Department Animal Biology, Facultad Ciencias, Biología, Universidad La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Martha L Bohórquez-Alonso
- Department Animal Biology, Facultad Ciencias, Biología, Universidad La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
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4
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Ludoški J, Francuski L, Gojković N, Matić B, Milankov V. Sexual size and shape dimorphism, and allometric scaling in the pupal and adult traits of Eristalis tenax. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9907. [PMID: 36937060 PMCID: PMC10015363 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The patterns and amount of variation in size, shape, and/or life history traits between females and males are fundamentally important to gain the comprehensive understanding of the evolution of phenotypic diversity. In addition, the covariation of phenotypic traits can significantly contribute to morphological diversification and sexual dimorphism (SD). Using linear and geometric morphometrics, 237 Eristalis tenax specimens sampled from five populations were, therefore, comparatively assessed for the variation in sexual size dimorphism (SSD), sexual shape dimorphism (SShD), and life history traits, as well as for trait covariation (ontogenetic and static allometry). Pupal body, adult wing, and body mass traits were analyzed. Female-biased SSD was observed for pupal length, width, and centroid size, adult wing centroid size, mass, wing loading, and wing area. Conversely, pupal length/width ratio, developmental time, and mass were not found to be sexually dimorphic. Next, wing SShD, but not pupal body SShD was revealed, while allometry was found to be an important "determinant of SD" at the adult stage, with only a minor impact at the pupal stage. By comparing the patterns of covariance (based on allometric slope and intercept) between respective body mass and morphometric traits of pupae and adults, greater variation in allometric slopes was found in adult traits, while static allometries of the two stages significantly differed, as well. Finally, the results indicate that changes in the allometric intercept could be an important source of intraspecific variation and SD in drone fly adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmina Ludoški
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
| | - Ljubinka Francuski
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
- Protix BVDongenThe Netherlands
| | - Nemanja Gojković
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
| | - Bojana Matić
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
| | - Vesna Milankov
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
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Sacchi R, Mangiacotti M, Scali S, Storniolo F, Zuffi MAL. Species-Specific Spatial Patterns of Variation in Sexual Dimorphism by Two Lizards Settled in the Same Geographic Context. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040736. [PMID: 36830523 PMCID: PMC9952635 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of sexual dimorphism (SD) results from intricate interactions between sexual and natural selections. Sexually selected traits are expected to depend on individual condition, while natural selected traits should not be. Islands offer an ideal context to test how these drivers interact with one another, as the size is a reliable proxy for resource availability. Here, we analysed SD in body size (snout-vent length) and head shape (assessed by geometric morphometric) in two species of lizards (Podarcis muralis and P. siculus) inhabiting the Tuscan archipelago (Central Italy). We found a strong SD variation among islands in both species. Furthermore, in P. muralis emerged some significant correlations between SD and island size, supporting the occurrence of possible effects of individual condition on SD. By contrast, SD in P. siculus followed opposite trajectories than in P. muralis, suggesting that in this species, natural selection could play a major role as a driver of SD. Our findings show that natural and sexual selection can interact in complex ways, and the responses are species-specific. Therefore, spatial patterns of variation in SD may strongly differ among species, even when they settle in the same geographic contest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Scali
- Museo di Storia Naturale, Comune di Milano, I-20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Storniolo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
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6
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Gallozzi F, Corti C, Castiglia R, Avramo V, Senczuk G, Mattioni C, Colangelo P. The Intriguing Biogeographic Pattern of the Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus (Squamata: Lacertidae) in the Tuscan Archipelago Reveals the Existence of a New Ancient Insular Clade. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030386. [PMID: 36766275 PMCID: PMC9913114 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Tuscan Archipelago is one of the most ancient and ecologically heterogeneous island systems in the Mediterranean. The biodiversity of these islands was strongly shaped by the Pliocene and Pleistocene sea regressions and transgression, resulting in different waves of colonization and isolation of species coming from the mainland. The Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, is present on the following islands of the Tuscan Archipelago: Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Capraia, Montecristo and Cerboli. The species in the area displays a relatively high morphological variability that in the past led to the description of several subspecies. In this study, both the genetic and morphological diversity of P. siculus of the Tuscan Archipelago were investigated. Specifically, the meristic characters and the dorsal pattern were analyzed, while the genetic relationships among these populations were explored with mtDNA and microsatellite nuclear markers to reconstruct the colonization history of the Archipelago. Our results converge in the identification of at least two different waves of colonization in the Archipelago: Elba, and the populations of Cerboli and Montecristo probably originate from historical introductions from mainland Tuscany, while those of Giglio and Capraia are surviving populations of an ancient lineage which colonized the Tuscan Archipelago during the Pliocene and which shares a common ancestry with the P. siculus populations of south-eastern Italy. Giannutri perhaps represents an interesting case of hybridization between the populations from mainland Tuscany and the Giglio-Capraia clade. Based on the high phenotypic and molecular distinctiveness of this ancient clade, these populations should be treated as distinct units deserving conservation and management efforts as well as further investigation to assess their taxonomic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gallozzi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Borelli 50, 00188 Rome, Italy
- National Research Council, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Claudia Corti
- Museum of Natural History ‘La Specola’, Via Romana 17, 50125 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Riccardo Castiglia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Borelli 50, 00188 Rome, Italy
| | - Vasco Avramo
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriele Senczuk
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Claudia Mattioni
- National Research Council, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Colangelo
- National Research Council, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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7
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Evaluating the island effect on phenotypic evolution in the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus (Reptilia: Lacertidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Islands are compelling natural laboratories for studying evolutionary processes. Nevertheless, the existence of general rules underlying morphological evolution on islands remains an unresolved issue. In this study, we investigated the insular phenotypic variability of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) on a large geographical scale, in order to assess the putative existence of an island effect on three morphological head traits: shape, size and degree of sexual dimorphism. A geometric morphometric analysis was performed on 30 island and 24 mainland populations, involving a total of 992 specimens, and we analysed differences in both mean trait values and variances (disparity). We found increased shape disparity in insular lizards with respect to mainland ones. On the other hand, both size disparity and mean head dimensions of males decreased on islands, leading to a reduction in sexual dimorphism. Our results provide evidence for a multidirectional morphological diversification on islands concerning head shape of both sexes, while directional and canalizing selection likely occurred for head size, but only in males. Our findings improve our knowledge on the effect of insularity in Podarcis siculus, and highlight the need for an exstensive sampling scheme and a multi-trait methodological approach.
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8
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Sacchi R, Mangiacotti M, Scali S, Coladonato AJ, Pitoni S, Falaschi M, Zuffi MAL. Statistical methodology for the evaluation of leukocyte data in wild reptile populations: A case study with the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237992. [PMID: 32845912 PMCID: PMC7449502 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The leukocyte profile has the potential to be a reliable method to measure health conditions and stress in wild animals, but limitations occur because current knowledge on reference intervals is largely incomplete, especially because data come from studies on captive animals involving few individuals from single populations. Here we propose a general framework for achieving reliable leukocyte reference intervals, encompassing a set of internal and external factors, potentially affecting the leukogram. To do so, we present a systematic survey of the hematology of the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, involving 794 lizards from 54 populations over the whole geographic range of the species in Italy. Reference intervals for white blood cell (WBC) and leukocyte differential count were obtained by using linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework. The application of the procedure clearly showed that both internal (sex and size) and external (latitude and season) factors are a source of variation of leukocyte profile. Furthermore, the leukogram of common wall lizard has a strong variability among populations, which accounts for more than 50% of the whole variation. Consequently, some common assumptions used in studies on captive individuals are no longer supported in wild populations, namely, i) any group of individuals is a representative sample, ii) any population is representative of all others, iii) geographic clines do not occur over the species range, and iv) seasonal variation has limited effects. We encourage researchers aimed at the definition of leukocyte reference intervals for wild populations of reptiles to involve a large number of populations over a wide geographic range in ad hoc statistical models to disentangle local and geographic effects on leukocyte profile variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Alan J. Coladonato
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Pitoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mattia Falaschi
- Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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9
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Massetti F, Gomes V, Perera A, Rato C, Kaliontzopoulou A. Morphological and functional implications of sexual size dimorphism in the Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Massetti
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Verónica Gomes
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Perera
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Catarina Rato
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
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Mangiacotti M, Fumagalli M, Scali S, Zuffi MAL, Cagnone M, Salvini R, Sacchi R. Inter- and intra-population variability of the protein content of femoral gland secretions from a lacertid lizard. Curr Zool 2016; 63:657-665. [PMID: 29492027 PMCID: PMC5804213 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zow113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Femoral glands of male lizards produce waxy secretions that are involved in inter- and intraspecific chemical communication. The main components of these secretions are proteins and lipids, the latter having been extensively studied and already associated to male quality. On the opposite, the composition and role of proteins are nearly unknown, the only available information coming from few studies on iguanids. These studies got the conclusion that proteins might have a communicative function, notably they could signal individual identity. A generalization of these findings requires the extension of protein analysis to other lizard families, and the primary detection of some patterns of individual variability. Using the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis as a model species, the protein fraction of the femoral pore secretions was investigated to provide the first characterization of this component in a lacertid lizard and to explore its source of variability, as a first step to support the hypothesized communicative role. Samples of proteins from femoral secretions were collected from 6 Italian populations and subjected to 1-dimensional electrophoresis. The binary vector of the band presence/absence was used to define the individual profiles. Protein fraction is found to have a structured pattern, with both an individual and a population component. Although the former supports the potential communicative role of proteins, the latter offers a double interpretation, phylogenetic or environmental, even though the phylogenetic effect seems more likely given the climatic resemblance of the considered sites. Further studies are necessary to shed light on both these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, Pavia I-27100, Italy.,Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milano I-20121, Italy
| | - Marco Fumagalli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Stefano Scali
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, Milano I-20121, Italy
| | - Marco A L Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, Calci, Pisa I-56011, Italy
| | - Maddalena Cagnone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Roberta Salvini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, Pavia I-27100, Italy
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11
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Sacchi R, Mangiacotti M, Scali S, Ghitti M, Bindolini B, Zuffi MA. Genetic and phenotypic component in head shape of common wall lizard Podarcis muralis. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00003058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Head shape in lizards correlates with a wide range of environmental pressures, supporting the hypothesis that patterns of phenotypic change represent adaptive responses to selective processes. However, natural selection promotes evolutionary adaptation only if the trait under selection has enough heritable variation. In this study we used geometric morphometrics and quantitative genetics to assess the heritability patterns of the head shape and size of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Genetic and phenotypic components were estimated using animal models, which showed that more than half of the variation in head morphology is inheritable. Furthermore, at least five independent patterns of genetically determined phenotypic change were detected. These outcomes confirm that morphological differentiation in common wall lizards may reliably be regarded as the result of adaptive processes driven by natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Scali
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Ghitti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Beatrice Bindolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco A.L. Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, via Roma 79, 56011 Calci, Pisa, Italy
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12
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Scali S, Sacchi R, Mangiacotti M, Pupin F, Gentilli A, Zucchi C, Sannolo M, Pavesi M, Zuffi MAL. Does a polymorphic species have a ‘polymorphic’ diet? A case study from a lacertid lizard. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Scali
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Pavia; via Taramelli 24 I-27100 Pavia Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Fabio Pupin
- MUSE - Museo delle Scienze di Trento; Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 I-38123 Trento Italy
| | - Augusto Gentilli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Pavia; via Taramelli 24 I-27100 Pavia Italy
| | - Carlo Zucchi
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Marco Sannolo
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Maurizio Pavesi
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano; Corso Venezia 55 I-20121 Milano Italy
| | - Marco A. L. Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale; Università di Pisa; via Roma 79 I-56011 Calci Italy
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