Comparing developmental stability in unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the genus<i>Darevskia</i>

Abramjan, Andran; Frýdlová, Petra; Jančúchová‐Lásková, Jitka; Suchomelová, Petra; Landová, Eva; Yavruyan, Eduard; Frynta, Daniel

doi:10.1111/ede.12286

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 69 publications

(88 reference statements)

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“…This is further supported by the very low heterozygosity found at the genome level in one individual of La Canna sampled in this study [12]. The highest prevalence of cephalic malformations observed in lizards of La Canna is most likely an expression of the detrimental effect of inbreeding depression, as observed in other reptiles [48][49][50][51]. In some specimens, the deformation is restricted to the parietal area, and it seems symmetric, whereas in others it is asymmetric, and involves few to many cephalic scales.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 79%

Climbing on the La Canna Volcanic Sea Stack to Obtain First-Hand Data on the Tiniest Population of the Critically Endangered Aeolian Wall Lizard Podarcis raffonei

Salvi

2023

Animals

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Among the extant populations of the critically endangered Aeolian wall lizard, the most vulnerable is the one surviving on La Canna, a columnar volcanic stack off the Filicudi Island. Here, I report the results of the first climbing expedition by a biologist on La Canna, that contributed direct observations and updated information on the size, morphology, and genetic variability of this population. Lizard density at the sampling site (a small terrace at 50 m of altitude) was 1.7 m−2, twice of a previous estimate. Standard methods for estimating population size are unsuitable for La Canna. An educated guess of about a hundred individuals can be drawn, considering the extent of habitat available on the stack and the number of observed lizards. Lizards on La Canna were not fearless, despite what was reported by alpinists, possibly because of aggressive intraspecific interactions or high environmental temperatures during sampling. Biometric data significantly extends the body size of La Canna’s lizards and indicates that it is not smaller than other P. raffonei populations. A complete lack of genetic diversity was found at the mitochondrial nd4 gene, in line with previous allozyme data and with estimates on other microinsular Podarcis populations. The small size of the La Canna population implies severe genetic drift and an extremely high level of inbreeding, as supported by low heterozygosity found across the genome. Detrimental effects of inbreeding depression are evident as cephalic malformations observed in all captured lizards of La Canna and might represent the more immediate threat to the persistence of this population.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 79%

Climbing on the La Canna Volcanic Sea Stack to Obtain First-Hand Data on the Tiniest Population of the Critically Endangered Aeolian Wall Lizard Podarcis raffonei

Salvi

2023

Animals

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Effects of the urban environment on the developmental stability, size and body condition of dice snakes (Natrix tessellata) living in artificial lakeside habitats

Mészáros,

Bürgés,

Tamás

et al. 2023

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Does reproductive mode affect sexually-selected coloration? Evaluating UV–blue spots in parthenogenetic and bisexual lizards of the genusDarevskia

2020

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Sexual selection often leads to evolution of conspicuous signals, raising the chances of attracting not only potential mates, but also predators. In lacertid lizards, ultraviolet (UV)–blue spots on flanks and shoulders represent such a trait. Some level of correlation between male and female ornamentation is also known to exist. Therefore, the phenotype of females may change in the absence of sexual selection. We tested this hypothesis on a complex of parthenogenetic and bisexual lizards of the genus Darevskia. We evaluated area, counts, and chromatic properties (UV opponency, saturation) of UV–blue spots and compared the values between the clones and their bisexual progenitor species. We found a fair heterogeneity between the parthenogenetic species, but no general tendency toward higher crypsis or conspicuousness. Values of the parthenogens were not significantly different from the values of sexual females. A possible explanation is that the changes in selective forces associated with parthenogenetic reproduction are too small to affect the resulting pattern of selective pressures on the studied traits, or that the phenotypes of the parthenogens result from the unique combination of parental genomes and are conserved by clonal reproduction.

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Comparing developmental stability in unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the genusDarevskia

Cited by 4 publications

References 69 publications

Climbing on the La Canna Volcanic Sea Stack to Obtain First-Hand Data on the Tiniest Population of the Critically Endangered Aeolian Wall Lizard Podarcis raffonei

Climbing on the La Canna Volcanic Sea Stack to Obtain First-Hand Data on the Tiniest Population of the Critically Endangered Aeolian Wall Lizard Podarcis raffonei

Effects of the urban environment on the developmental stability, size and body condition of dice snakes (Natrix tessellata) living in artificial lakeside habitats

Does reproductive mode affect sexually-selected coloration? Evaluating UV–blue spots in parthenogenetic and bisexual lizards of the genusDarevskia

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