1
|
Horn K, Shidemantle G, Velasquez I, Ronan E, Blackwood J, Reinke BA, Hua J. Evaluating the interactive effects of artificial light at night and background color on tadpole crypsis, background adaptation efficacy, and growth. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122056. [PMID: 37343910 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a global pollutant of rising concern. While alterations to natural day-night cycles caused by ALAN can affect a variety of traits, the broader fitness and ecological implications of these ALAN-induced shifts remain unclear. This study evaluated the interactive effects of ALAN and background color on traits that have important implications for predator-prey interactions and fitness: crypsis, background adaptation efficacy, and growth. Using three amphibian species as our models, we discovered that: (1) Exposure to ALAN reduced the ability for some species to match their backgrounds (background adaptation efficacy), (2) Crypsis and background adaptation efficacy were enhanced when tadpoles were exposed to dark backgrounds only, emphasizing the importance of environmental context when evaluating the effects of ALAN, (3) ALAN and background color have a combined effect on a common metric of fitness (growth), and (4) Effects of ALAN were not generalizable across amphibian species, supporting calls for more studies that utilize a diversity of species. Notably, to our knowledge, we found the first evidence that ALAN can diminish background adaptation efficacy in an amphibian species (American toad tadpoles). Collectively, our study joins others in highlighting the complex effects of ALAN on wildlife and underscores the challenges of generalizing ALAN's effect across species, emphasizing the need for a greater diversity of species and approaches used in ALAN research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Horn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
| | - Grascen Shidemantle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Isabela Velasquez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13902, USA; Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Emily Ronan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Jurnee Blackwood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Beth A Reinke
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625, USA
| | - Jessica Hua
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13902, USA; Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Raynal RS, Schwanz LE, Riley JL, Umbers KDL. Genetic and environmental drivers of colour and pattern in the Australian jacky dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus). J Evol Biol 2022; 35:1229-1239. [PMID: 35861703 PMCID: PMC9544122 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The underlying drivers of variation in the colouration (colour and pattern) of animals can be genetic, non‐genetic, or more likely, a combination of both. Understanding the role of heritable genetic elements, as well as non‐genetic factors such as age, habitat or temperature, in shaping colouration can provide insight into the evolution and function of these traits, as well as the speed of response to changing environments. This project examined the genetic and non‐genetic drivers of continuous variation in colouration in a lizard, the jacky dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus). We leveraged a large captive experiment that manipulated parental and offspring thermal environment to simultaneously estimate the genetic and non‐genetic drivers of variation in colouration. We found that the overall brightness, the elongation of the longitudinal stripes on the dorsum and the contrast between light and dark patches of the pattern were all heritable. Colouration varied according to the age of the hatchling; however, the thermal environment of neither the parents nor offspring contributed significantly to colouration. It appears that developmental plasticity and maternal effects associated with temperature are not important drivers of variation in our measures of colouration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Raynal
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lisa E Schwanz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julia L Riley
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Kate D L Umbers
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.,Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alfakih A, Watt PJ, Nadeau NJ. The physiological cost of colour change: evidence, implications and mitigations. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275479. [PMID: 35593398 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.210401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Animals benefit from phenotypic plasticity in changing environments, but this can come at a cost. Colour change, used for camouflage, communication, thermoregulation and UV protection, represents one of the most common plastic traits in nature and is categorised as morphological or physiological depending on the mechanism and speed of the change. Colour change has been assumed to carry physiological costs, but current knowledge has not advanced beyond this basic assumption. The costs of changing colour will shape the evolution of colour change in animals, yet no coherent research has been conducted in this area, leaving a gap in our understanding. Therefore, in this Review, we examine the direct and indirect evidence of the physiological cost of colour change from the cellular to the population level, in animals that utilise chromatophores in colour change. Our Review concludes that the physiological costs result from either one or a combination of the processes of (i) production, (ii) translocation and (iii) maintenance of pigments within the colour-containing cells (chromatophores). In addition, both types of colour change (morphological and physiological) pose costs as they require energy for hormone production and neural signalling. Moreover, our Review upholds the hypothesis that, if repetitively used, rapid colour change (i.e. seconds-minutes) is more costly than slow colour change (days-weeks) given that rapidly colour-changing animals show mitigations, such as avoiding colour change when possible. We discuss the potential implications of this cost on colour change, behaviour and evolution of colour-changing animals, generating testable hypotheses and emphasising the need for future work to address this gap.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ateah Alfakih
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Albaha University, Almakhwah 65553, Saudi Arabia.,Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Penelope J Watt
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Nicola J Nadeau
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Abstract
Complex sexual signals spanning multiple sensory modalities may be common in nature, yet few studies have explored how combinations of phenotypic traits influence male attractiveness and mating success. Here, we investigate whether combinations of multiple male phenotypic traits (both within and across sensory modalities) predict male mating and fertilization success in the critically endangered southern corroboree frog, Pseudophryne corroboree. We conducted breeding trials in a standardized captive environment where females were given the opportunity to choose between multiple males over the duration of the breeding season. For each male, we measured multiple call traits, aspects of coloration, body size, and age. We found that complex interactions between multiple traits best predicted male mating and fertilization success. In general, males with lower call frequency, lower call rate, and shorter call duration had the highest mating and fertilization success. Fertilization success was additionally linked to male body size and age. These findings suggest that female P. corroboree select mates based on a suite of acoustic traits, adding to a growing body of evidence that females use multiple traits to assess male quality. Our results also suggest that females may combine information from multiple signals non-additively. Moreover, our results imply that females gain direct fertility benefits from their mate choice decisions. We argue that understanding female mate choice based on various signals across multiple sensory modalities has important implications for the integration of mate choice into conservation breeding programs and needs to be considered when developing behavior-based captive breeding strategies.
Significance statement
Sexual signals are often highly complex, yet we know little about how multiple signal components both within and across various sensory modalities predict male mating success. We investigated whether combinations of multiple phenotypic traits (within and across sensory modalities) predicted male breeding success in threatened corroboree frogs. We conducted captive breeding trials in a homogeneous environment, where females could choose between multiple males over the duration of a single breeding season. We found that interactions between multiple male traits predicted mating and fertilization success. Males with lower call frequency, call rate, and duration had higher mating success. Fertilization success was also linked to acoustic signals, body size, and age. Understanding mate choice for multiple traits further elucidates the complexity of female mate choice. This study is one of the first to consider the conservation implications of multimodal signaling in mate choice.
Collapse
|
5
|
Wuthrich KL, Nagel A, Swierk L. Rapid Body Color Change Provides Lizards with Facultative Crypsis in the Eyes of Their Avian Predators. Am Nat 2021; 199:277-290. [DOI: 10.1086/717678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Lin Wuthrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902
| | - Amber Nagel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019
| | - Lindsey Swierk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511; and Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies, Iquitos, Loreto 16001, Perú
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wan L, Liu Z, Wang T, Yang M, Li J, Sun H, Niu C, Zhao W, Jin Y. Camouflage versus running performance as strategies against predation in a lizard inhabiting different habitats. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:17409-17416. [PMID: 34938517 PMCID: PMC8668757 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Running speed and camouflage are associated with the foraging and anti-predator abilities of animals. The toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus versicolor, has evolved a darker dorsal color in melanistic habitats and maintained a lighter color in adjacent, non-melanistic habitats. We test the hypothesis that lizards have weaker running speed on well-matching backgrounds than on less matching backgrounds. We used lizard models to compare the predation pressure, while the running speed of dark and light lizards were compared in field tunnels using a video recording method. Our results indicated that both the dark lizards in melanistic Heishankou (HSK) and the light lizards in non-melanistic Guazhou (GZ) face lower predation pressure than potential color-background unmatched lizards. The light lizards have a potentially higher running speed than darker lizards in melanistic habitats, which implies that substrate color matching populations with benefits of camouflage might have lower anti-predation pressure, and the costs of investment in melanin production may reduce running capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Wan
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest Normal UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Zhenxia Liu
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest Normal UniversityLanzhouChina
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Tao Wang
- College of life sciences and medicineZhejiang Sci‐Tech UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Minglu Yang
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest Normal UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Jiasheng Li
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Hui Sun
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chenkai Niu
- College of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Wei Zhao
- College of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Yuanting Jin
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sakich NB, Tattersall GJ. Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) with reduced scalation lose water faster but do not have substantially different thermal preferences. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269179. [PMID: 34137892 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.234427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Whether scales reduce cutaneous evaporative water loss in lepidosaur reptiles (Superorder Lepidosauria) such as lizards and snakes has been a contentious issue for nearly half a century. Furthermore, while many studies have looked at whether dehydration affects thermal preference in lepidosaurs, far fewer have examined whether normally hydrated lepidosaurs can assess their instantaneous rate of evaporative water loss and adjust their thermal preference to compensate in an adaptive manner. We tested both of these hypotheses using three captive-bred phenotypes of bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) sourced from the pet trade: 'wild-types' with normal scalation, 'leatherbacks' exhibiting scales of reduced prominence, and scaleless bearded dragons referred to as 'silkbacks'. Silkbacks on average lost water evaporatively at about twice the rate that wild-types did. Leatherbacks on average were closer in their rates of evaporative water loss to silkbacks than they were to wild-types. Additionally, very small (at most ∼1°C) differences in thermal preference existed between the three phenotypes that were not statistically significant. This suggests a lack of plasticity in thermal preference in response to an increase in the rate of evaporative water loss, and may be reflective of a thermal 'strategy' as employed by thermoregulating bearded dragons that prioritises immediate thermal benefits over the threat of future dehydration. The results of this study bolster an often-discounted hypothesis regarding the present adaptive function of scales and have implications for the applied fields of animal welfare and conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B Sakich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Glenn J Tattersall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kelleher SR, Scheele BC, Silla AJ, Keogh JS, Hunter DA, Endler JA, Byrne PG. Disease influences male advertisement and mating outcomes in a critically endangered amphibian. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
9
|
Dickerson AL, Rankin KJ, Cadena V, Endler JA, Stuart-Fox D. Rapid beard darkening predicts contest outcome, not copulation success, in bearded dragon lizards. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
10
|
Baling M, Stuart‐Fox D, Brunton DH, Dale J. Spatial and temporal variation in prey color patterns for background matching across a continuous heterogeneous environment. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2310-2319. [PMID: 32184983 PMCID: PMC7069320 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In heterogeneous habitats, camouflage via background matching can be challenging because visual characteristics can vary dramatically across small spatial scales. Additionally, temporal variation in signaling functions of coloration can affect crypsis, especially when animals use coloration seasonally for intraspecific signaling (e.g., mate selection). We currently have a poor understanding of how wild prey optimize background matching within continuously heterogeneous habitats, and whether this is affected by requirements of intraspecific signaling across biological seasons. Here, we quantified color patterns of a wild population of shore skink (Oligosoma smithi), a variably colored lizard endemic to New Zealand, to (a) investigate whether background matching varies across a vegetation gradient; (b) assess potential signaling functions of color; and (c) to determine whether there is a trade-off between requirements for crypsis and intraspecific signaling in coloration across seasons. Although all pattern types occurred throughout the vegetation gradient, we found evidence for background matching in skinks across the vegetation gradient, where dorsal brightness and pattern complexity corresponded with the proportion of vegetation cover. There was also a significant disparity between ventral color (saturation) of juveniles and adults, and also between sexes, suggestive of sex recognition. However, there was little indication that color was condition-dependent in adults. Despite some evidence for a potential role in signaling, crypsis did not greatly differ across seasons. Our study suggests that selection favors a mix of generalist and specialist background matching strategies across continuously heterogeneous habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marleen Baling
- Unitec Institute of TechnologyAucklandNew Zealand
- School of Natural and Computational SciencesMassey University (Albany Campus)AucklandNew Zealand
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - Dianne H. Brunton
- School of Natural and Computational SciencesMassey University (Albany Campus)AucklandNew Zealand
| | - James Dale
- School of Natural and Computational SciencesMassey University (Albany Campus)AucklandNew Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jones MEH, Pistevos JCA, Cooper N, Lappin AK, Georges A, Hutchinson MN, Holleley CE. Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite-force performance in sex-reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 333:252-263. [PMID: 32061035 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Sex-related differences in morphology and behavior are well documented, but the relative contributions of genes and environment to these traits are less well understood. Species that undergo sex reversal, such as the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), offer an opportunity to better understand sexually dimorphic traits because sexual phenotypes can exist on different chromosomal backgrounds. Reproductively female dragons with a discordant sex chromosome complement (sex reversed), at least as juveniles, exhibit traits in common with males (e.g., longer tails and greater boldness). However, the impact of sex reversal on sexually dimorphic traits in adult dragons is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of sex reversal on bite-force performance, which may be important in resource acquisition (e.g., mates and/or food). We measured body size, head size, and bite force of the three sexual phenotypes in a colony of captive animals. Among adults, we found that males (ZZm) bite more forcefully than either chromosomally concordant females (ZWf) or sex-reversed females (ZZf), and this difference is associated with having relatively larger head dimensions. Therefore, adult sex-reversed females, despite apparently exhibiting male traits as juveniles, do not develop the larger head and enhanced bite force of adult male bearded dragons. This pattern is further illustrated in the full sample by a lack of positive allometry of bite force in sex-reversed females that is observed in males. The results reveal a close association between reproductive phenotype and bite force performance, regardless of sex chromosome complement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc E H Jones
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Vertebrates, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer C A Pistevos
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement CRIOBE - USR 3278: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, Polynésie Française
| | - Natalie Cooper
- Vertebrates, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | | | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Mark N Hutchinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Vertebrates, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Australian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia CSIRO, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Predation usually selects for visual crypsis, the colour matching between an animal and its background. Geographic co-variation between animal and background colourations is well known, but how crypsis varies along elevational gradients remains unknown. We predict that dorsal colouration in the lizard Psammodromus algirus should covary with the colour of bare soil—where this lizard is mainly found—along a 2200 m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). Moreover, we predict that crypsis should decrease with elevation for two reasons: (1) Predation pressure typically decreases with elevation, and (2) at high elevation, dorsal colouration is under conflicting selection for both crypsis and thermoregulation. By means of standardised photographies of the substratum and colourimetric measurements of lizard dorsal skin, we tested the colour matching between lizard dorsum and background. We found that, along the gradient, lizard dorsal colouration covaried with the colouration of bare soil, but not with other background elements where the lizard is rarely detected. Moreover, supporting our prediction, the degree of crypsis against bare soil decreased with elevation. Hence, our findings suggest local adaptation for crypsis in this lizard along an elevational gradient, but this local adaptation would be hindered at high elevations.
Collapse
|
13
|
Tong H, Li J, Wo Y, Shao G, Zhao W, Aguilar‐Gómez D, Jin Y. Effects of substrate color on intraspecific body color variation in the toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus versicolor. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:10253-10262. [PMID: 31624549 PMCID: PMC6787858 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diversity in animal coloration is generally associated with adaptation to their living habitats, ranging from territorial display and sexual selection to predation or predation avoidance, and thermoregulation. However, the mechanism underlying color variation in toad-headed Phrynocephalus lizards remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the population color variation of Phrynocephalus versicolor. We found that lizards distributed in dark substrate have darker dorsal coloration (melanic lizards) than populations living in light substrates. This characteristic may improve their camouflage effectiveness. A reciprocal substrate translocation experiment was conducted to clarify the potential role of morphological adaptation and physiological plasticity of this variation. Spectrometry technology and digital photography were used to quantify the color variation of the above-mentioned melanic and nonmelanic P. versicolor populations and their native substrate. Additionally, substrate color preference in both populations was investigated with choice experiments. Our results indicate that the melanic and nonmelanic populations with remarkable habitat color difference were significantly different on measured reflectance, luminance, and RGB values. Twenty-four hours, 30 days, and 60 days of substrate translocation treatment had little effects on dorsal color change. We also found that melanic lizards choose to live in dark substrate, while nonmelanic lizards have no preference for substrate color. In conclusion, our results support that the dorsal coloration of P. versicolor, associated with substrate color, is likely a morphological adaptation rather than phenotypic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Tong
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jiasheng Li
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yubin Wo
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Gang Shao
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Wei Zhao
- School of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | | | - Yuanting Jin
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cadena V, Rankin K, Smith KR, Endler JA, Stuart-Fox D. Temperature-induced colour change varies seasonally in bearded dragon lizards. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
15
|
Knight K. Bearded dragons colour match their home territory. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:954. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.158667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|