Dewlap Color Variation Based on Pterin and Carotenoid Pigments in Three Subspecies of Anolis jubar of the Cuban Southern Coast

Alfonso, Yasel U.; Morris, Humberto J.; Gutiérrez, Aida; Rodrı́guez-Schettino, Lourdes; Denis, D.; Steffen, John E.

doi:10.1643/cp-12-071

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Despite the substantial body of work on the evolution of intrapopulation (Sinervo & Lively, ; Healey, Uller & Olsson, ) and interpopulation colour variation (Klomp et al ., ; McLean, Moussalli & Stuart‐Fox, ), studies investigating the underlying mechanisms are rare (Steffen & McGraw, ; Alfonso et al ., ). In the present study, we aimed to reduce this scarcity by investigating the underlying mechanisms of the geographical variation in frill colour across the distributional range of the frillneck lizard.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Because similar colours can be produced by either one, or a combination of carotenoids and pteridines (Steffen & McGraw, ; Weiss et al ., ), identifying the relative contribution of each pigment type is crucial for understanding the function of colour signals. A recent study showed that variation in dewlap colour among subspecies of the lizard Anolis jubar in different regions of Cuba is a result of differences in the relative proportion of carotenoids and pteridines (Alfonso et al ., ). This suggests that geographical variation in the relative contribution of pigment types can produce colour variation among subspecies/populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Proximate mechanisms of colour variation in the frillneck lizard: geographical differences in pigment contents of an ornament

Merkling

Hamilton

Cser

et al. 2015

Biol. J. Linn. Soc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Animal coloration has evolved in contexts such as communication, camouflage, and thermoregulation. Most studies of animal coloration focus on its adaptive benefits, whereas its underlying mechanisms have received less attention despite their potential influence on adaptive benefits. In fish and reptiles, for example, colour variation from yellow to red can be produced by carotenoid and/or pteridine pigments, which differ dramatically in the way they are obtained (carotenoids through diet and pteridines synthesized de novo). Hence, potential adaptive benefits could differ greatly depending on the relative contribution to coloration of different pigments. In the present study, we investigate the mechanisms underlying colour variation in the frill of the Australian frillneck lizard (Sauropsida: Chlamydosaurus kingii). Frill colour varies between populations across the species' range (red, orange, yellow or white). We argue that this geographical variation results from different concentrations of carotenoids and pteridines in the frill. Frill carotenoid concentrations were lower in eastern populations (yellow and white forms), and pteridines were present only in the red and orange forms, thereby explaining their redder hues. The observed geographical variation in frill carotenoids suggests variation in carotenoid availability across the species' range, which is backed up by the finding that plasma carotenoid concentrations were higher in the red (western) compared to the yellow (eastern) form. Although no correlations were found between individual colour measurements, frill pigments and plasma carotenoids, our results suggest that selective pressures vary across the species' range and we speculate that predation pressures and/or intrasexual signalling context differ between forms.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Proximate mechanisms of colour variation in the frillneck lizard: geographical differences in pigment contents of an ornament

Merkling

Hamilton

Cser

et al. 2015

Biol. J. Linn. Soc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…By contrast, Driessens et al (2015) found that the brightness of the red and yellow regions of the A. sagrei dewlap correlated with body condition but, as a different body condition proxy (size-corrected mass) was used, direct comparisons with our condition proxy are not possible. Red, orange and yellow dewlap colors are produced by a combination of pterin and carotenoid pigments (Ortiz et al 1963;Steffen & McGraw 2007;Alfonso et al 2013). Red colors in the dewlap are almost exclusively the product of pterin (particularly drosopterin) pigments that, unlike carotenoid pigments, are not obtained from dietary sources (Macedonia et al 2000;Steffen & McGraw 2009;Steffen et al 2010).…”

Section: The Super-honest Information Content Of a Widespread Sexual mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trait allometries generate super‐honesty in Anolis dewlaps and may underlie sexual dimorphism

Petelo

Swierk

2017

Integrative Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Whether or not sexually selected traits consistently exhibit positive allometry (i.e. are disproportionately large in larger individuals) is an ongoing debate. Multiple models and exceptions to this rule suggest that the underlying drivers of sexual trait allometry are nuanced. Here, we compare allometries of sexual and non-sexual traits of a species (Anolis aquaticus) within a well-studied lizard genus to test the competing hypotheses that sexual traits are, or are not, defined by positive allometry. We further consider the relationships of trait functions, which are relatively well understood in the genus Anolis, and allometry to identify potential drivers of allometric patterns. In particular, we explore how trait allometries interact to influence total organism function and generate sexual dimorphism. We quantified size (of targeted traits) and color of a sexual signal (the dewlap) in Anolis aquaticus in the field. The dewlap conveyed information relevant to intra-sexual combat and exhibited positive allometry. Overall, our results suggest that using single-trait allometries as indicators of past selection provides only an incomplete understanding of trait evolution. Although the function of positive allometry in some individual sexual signals (e.g. those conveying "super-honest" information) may be straightforward, we illustrate how scaling relationships interact synergistically to influence the function of phenotypes and propose avenues for future research.

show abstract

“…In birds and fishes, pigments that bestow yellow, orange, and red coloration depend on food sources of carotenoids (Endler 1983; Hill et al 2002). In the case of anoles, these colors can also be produced via endogenously synthesized pteridins (Macedonia et al 2000; Steffen and McGraw 2007; Alfonso et al 2013). Experiments with A. distichus and Anolis sagrei found no change in dewlap color or pattern under alternative dietary regimes of carotenoid supplementation (Steffens et al 2010; Ng et al 2013b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Factors and Sexual Signal Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary drivers of polymorphic sexual signals in slender anoles

Prates

D’Angiolella

Rodrigues

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Phenotypic variation among populations, as seen in the signaling traits of many species, provides an opportunity to test whether similar factors generate shared phenotypic patterns in different parts of a species’ range. We investigate whether genetic divergence, abiotic gradients, and sympatry with closely related species explain variation in the dewlap colors of slender anoles, Anolis fuscoauratus. To this aim, we characterized dewlap diversity in the field, inferred population genetic structure and evolutionary relationships, assessed whether dewlap morphs are associated with climate and landscape variables, and tested for non-random associations in the distribution of A. fuscoauratus morphs and sympatric Anolis species. We found that dewlap colors vary among but not within sites in A. fuscoauratus. Regional genetic clusters included multiple morphs, while populations with similar dewlaps were often distantly related. Morphs did not segregate in environmental space, suggesting that dewlaps are not locally adapted to abiotic factors. Instead, we found a negative association between certain morphs and Anolis species with similar relative dewlap brightness, suggesting that interactions with closely related species promoted dewlap divergence among A. fuscoauratus populations. Slender anoles emerge as a promising system to address questions about parallel trait evolution and the contribution of signaling traits to speciation.

show abstract

Dewlap Color Variation Based on Pterin and Carotenoid Pigments in Three Subspecies of Anolis jubar of the Cuban Southern Coast

Cited by 8 publications

References 25 publications

Proximate mechanisms of colour variation in the frillneck lizard: geographical differences in pigment contents of an ornament

Proximate mechanisms of colour variation in the frillneck lizard: geographical differences in pigment contents of an ornament

Trait allometries generate super‐honesty in Anolis dewlaps and may underlie sexual dimorphism

Evolutionary drivers of polymorphic sexual signals in slender anoles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About