Population divergence in chemical signals and the potential for premating isolation between islet- and mainland populations of the Skyros wall lizard (Podarcis gaigeae)

Runemark, Anna; Gabirot, Marianne; Svensson, Erik I.

doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02214.x

Cited by 38 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…Most of the evidence in this regard comes from studies that analyse the scents produced by femoral and precloacal glands, typically denoted as ‘chemical secretions’ 10, 11 . The qualitative and quantitative composition of the lipophilic fraction of these chemical secretions differ among individuals, populations and species 12–14 , and this variation is used by lizards in social and sexual interactions to assess individual differences in many traits 15–17 . The composition of the chemical secretions seems to be highly dependent on physiological processes and endocrine regulation 8 that occur while individuals are under biotic ( e.g ., trophic resources 18 ) and abiotic ( e.g ., climatic conditions 19 ) pressures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary constraints can preclude the expression of an honest chemical sexual signal

García‐Roa

Sáiz

Gómara³

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Identifying the factors that underlie signal divergences remains challenging in studies of animal communication. Regarding the chemical signalling, different compounds can be found in some species but be absent in others. We hypothesized that if the costs that are associated with the expression of some compounds are too high, their presence in the signal may be restricted. However, these compounds may be expressed and be functional when those costs are relaxed. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol), a dietary compound with metabolic relevancy, acts as an honest chemical sexual signal in many lizards but no in others such as the Carpetan Rock lizard (Iberolacerta cyreni). We investigated whether dietary supplementation favours the expression of this vitamin in scents of I. cyreni. We show that dietary constraints can preclude the expression of vitamin E in chemical secretions of wild males because was expressed when it was experimentally provided in the diet. Vitamin E supplementation also heightened the immune response of males and increased the interest of their scent for females, highlighting the vitamin E as a chemical sexual signal in this species. We suggest that diet could decisively act as a driver of intra- and interspecific divergences in the chemical signalling of lizards.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary constraints can preclude the expression of an honest chemical sexual signal

García‐Roa

Sáiz

Gómara³

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…Phenotypic plasticity in sexual signals could play a key role in initial signal divergence [3], for example, as a way to maximize the efficiency of signals for communication in different environments [4, 5]. These differences can be later amplified by sexual selection leading to differences in mating preferences [6–8], which could preclude mating between populations (e.g., [9–13]), and lead to speciation processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in Chemical Sexual Signals May Promote Reproductive Isolation and Cryptic Speciation between Iberian Wall Lizard Populations

Gabirot

López

Martı́n

2012

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology

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Interpopulational variation in sexual signals may lead to premating reproductive isolation and speciation. Genetic and morphological studies suggest that the Iberian wall lizard, Podarcis hispanica, forms part of a “species complex” with several cryptic species. We explored the role of chemical sexual signals in interpopulational recognition between five distinct populations of Iberian wall lizards in Central Spain. Results showed that these populations differed in morphology and in composition and proportion of chemical compounds in femoral gland secretions of males. Tongue-flick experiments indicated that male and female lizards discriminated and were more interested in scents of lizards from their own area (i.e., Northern versus Southern populations), but did not discriminate between all populations. Moreover, only males from the populations that are geographically located more far away preferred scent of females from their own population. These data suggest that, at least between some populations, there may be reproductive isolation mediated by chemical signals and cryptic speciation.

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“…Divergence may be driven by differences in the direction and intensity of intra-or intersexual selection on males (López and Martín 2004), local adaptation through, for instance, selection for transmission efficiency under differing climates (Alberts 1992;Martín et al 2015); or through stochastic change (e.g. Runemark et al 2011). Our study goes some way toward testing the sexual selection hypothesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical communication, sexual selection, and introgression in wall lizards

et al. 2017

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Divergence in communication systems should influence the likelihood that individuals from different lineages interbreed, and consequently shape the direction and rate of hybridization. Here, we studied the role of chemical communication in hybridization, and its contribution to asymmetric and sexually selected introgression between two lineages of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). Males of the two lineages differed in the chemical composition of their femoral secretions. Chemical profiles provided information regarding male secondary sexual characters, but the associations were variable and inconsistent between lineages. In experimental contact zones, chemical composition was weakly associated with male reproductive success, and did not predict the likelihood of hybridization. Consistent with these results, introgression of chemical profiles in a natural hybrid zone resembled that of neutral nuclear genetic markers overall, but one compound in particular (tocopherol methyl ether) matched closely the introgression of visual sexual characters. These results imply that associations among male chemical profiles, sexual characters, and reproductive success largely reflect transient and environmentally driven effects, and that genetic divergence in chemical composition is largely neutral. We therefore suggest that femoral secretions in wall lizards primarily provide information about residency and individual identity rather than function as sexual signals.

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Population divergence in chemical signals and the potential for premating isolation between islet- and mainland populations of the Skyros wall lizard (Podarcis gaigeae)

Cited by 38 publications

References 85 publications

Dietary constraints can preclude the expression of an honest chemical sexual signal

Dietary constraints can preclude the expression of an honest chemical sexual signal

Differences in Chemical Sexual Signals May Promote Reproductive Isolation and Cryptic Speciation between Iberian Wall Lizard Populations

Chemical communication, sexual selection, and introgression in wall lizards

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