Ecological significance of dorsal polymorphism in a Batesian mimic snake

Santos, Xavier; Azor, Jairo S.; Cortés, Sergio Pérez; Rodriguez, Elisa Lopez; Larios, J. Ángel Hinojosa; Pleguezuelos, Juan M.

doi:10.1093/cz/zox058

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Coexistence of distinct types or morphs within a population has been puzzling evolutionary biologists for decades (Smith, 1974;Sinervo & Lively, 1996). Polymorphisms may be maintained by balancing selection that optimizes reproductive or antipredator tactics (Galeotti et al, 2003;Hagman et al, 2015;Pérez i de Lanuza & Font, 2015;Santos et al, 2018;Nokelainen et al, 2020a). The selective forces on animal coloration are often mediated by behavioural or physiological mechanisms (Sinervo & Lively, 1996;Huey et al, 2003;Pryke et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do colour morphs of wall lizards express different personalities?

Sreelatha

Carretero

Lanuza

et al. 2021

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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Colour morphs sometimes have different behavioural strategies which may be maintained by frequency or density dependence mechanisms. We investigated temporal changes in behavioural reaction to a novel environment among colour morphs (yellow, orange, white) of the European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). Adult males were given two 15 min experimental trials, and their locomotion was highly consistent between the two trials. Boldness, freezing and escape behaviour were less repeatable. Colour morphs differed in their locomotion and freezing behaviour. Boldness was similar among the morphs, whereas escape behaviour was lowest in yellow morph. Consequently, yellow morph males tended to explore novel environments quickly and thus were more likely to move to potentially safe areas. Orange and white males showed more fear when exposed to a novel environment. Whether such alternative behavioural strategies can contribute to the maintenance of variable fitness optima among the morphs and ultimately to the maintenance of polymorphism remains open to further investigation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do colour morphs of wall lizards express different personalities?

Sreelatha

Carretero

Lanuza

et al. 2021

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…Indeed, crypsis, Batesian mimicry or aposematism are ecological functions linked to the dorsal pattern of snakes, which determine how individuals interact with predators, prey and the surrounding environment (e.g. Valkonen et al, 2011;Martinez-Freiría et al, 2017;Santos et al, 2017). Similarly, dark colouration plays an important role in thermoregulation in ectotherms inhabiting cold environments (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of intraspecific morphological variation in Vipera seoanei: allometry, sex, and colour phenotype

et al. 2020

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Snakes frequently exhibit ontogenetic and sexual variation in head dimensions, as well as the occurrence of distinct colour morphotypes which might be fitness-related. In this study, we used linear biometry and geometric morphometrics to investigate intraspecific morphological variation related to allometry and sexual dimorphism in Vipera seoanei, a species that exhibits five colour morphotypes, potentially subjected to distinct ecological pressures. We measured body size (SVL), tail length and head dimensions in 391 specimens, and examined variation in biometric traits with respect to allometry, sex and colour morph. In addition, we analysed head shape variation by recording the position of 29 landmarks in 123 specimens and establishing a low-error protocol for implementing geometric morphometrics to European vipers. All head dimensions exhibited significant allometry, while sexual differences occurred for SVL, relative tail length and snout height. After considering size effects, we found significant differences in body proportions between the sexes and across colour morphs, which suggests an important influence of lowland and montane habitats in shaping morphological variation. By contrast, head shape did not exhibit significant variation across sexes or colour morphs. Instead it was mainly associated to allometric variation, where the supraocular and the rear regions of the head were the areas that varied the most throughout growth and across individuals. Overall, this study provides a thorough description of morphological variability in Vipera seoanei and highlights the relevance of combining different tools (i.e. linear and geometric morphometrics) and analyses to evaluate the relative contribution of different factors in shaping intraspecific variation.

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“…Indeed, crypsis, Batesian mimicry or aposematism are ecological functions linked to the dorsal pattern of snakes, which determine how individuals interact with predators, prey and the surrounding environment (e.g. Valkonen et al, 2011; Santos et al, 2017; Martinez-Freiría et al, 2017). Similarly, dark colouration plays an important role in thermoregulation in ectotherms inhabiting cold environments (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of Intraspecific Morphological Variation inVipera seoanei: Allometry, Sex, and Colour Phenotype

Lucchini

Kaliontzopoulou

Val

et al. 2020

Preprint

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13Snakes frequently exhibit ontogenetic and sexual variation in head dimensions, as well as 14 the occurrence of distinct colour morphotypes which might be fitness-related. In this 15 study, we used linear biometry and geometric morphometrics to investigate intraspecific 16 morphological variation related to allometry and sexual dimorphism in Vipera seoanei, a 17 species that exhibits five colour morphotypes, potentially subjected to distinct ecological 18 pressures. We measured body size (SVL), tail length and head dimensions in 391 19 specimens, and examined variation in biometric traits with respect to allometry, sex and 20 colour morph. In addition, we analysed head shape variation by recording the position of 21 29 landmarks in 123 specimens and establishing a low-error protocol for implementing 22 geometric morphometrics to European vipers. All head dimensions exhibited significant 23 allometry, while sexual differences occurred for SVL, relative tail length and snout 24 height. After considering size effects, we found significant differences in body 25 proportions between the sexes and across colour morphs, which suggests an important 26 influence of lowland and montane habitats in shaping morphological variation. By 27 contrast, head shape did not exhibit significant variation across sexes or colour morphs. 28Instead it was mainly associated to allometric variation, where the supraocular and the 29 rear regions of the head were the areas that varied the most throughout growth and across 30 individuals. Overall, this study provides a thorough description of morphological 31 variability in Vipera seoanei and highlights the relevance of combining different tools 32 (i.e. linear and geometric morphometrics) and analyses to evaluate the relative 33 contribution of different factors in shaping intraspecific variation.34 35 36 37 38 Understanding how morphological variation across individuals arises and how it is 39 distributed both temporally and spatially have attracted the attention of biologists over 40 the years (Verwaijen, Van Damme and Herrel, 2002; Harmon et al., 2003; 41 Kaliontzopoulou, Pinho and Martínez-Freiría, 2018). 42 Size is the predominant axis of morphological variation within and among populations 43 (Rohlf, 1990). As such, allometry, the dependence of shape on size, is a major framework 44 for understanding how and why different traits vary (Klingenberg, 2016). First, changes 45 in size and shape occurring during growth and their relationship (i.e. ontogenetic 46 allometry) are of essential importance for investigating the developmental processes 47 producing the structures of interest (McNamara, 2012). Second, allometric variation 48 across individuals at the same developmental stage within a population (i.e. static 49 allometry) can be informative on the selective processes acting on individuals, since 50 allometric parameters can be directly linked to both ecological adaptation (Gould, 1966) 51and sexual selection (Bonduriansky and Day, 2003). Indeed, body structures that are of 52 partic...

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Ecological significance of dorsal polymorphism in a Batesian mimic snake

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

Do colour morphs of wall lizards express different personalities?

Do colour morphs of wall lizards express different personalities?

Sources of intraspecific morphological variation in Vipera seoanei: allometry, sex, and colour phenotype

Sources of Intraspecific Morphological Variation inVipera seoanei: Allometry, Sex, and Colour Phenotype

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