Seasonal Variations in Femoral Gland Secretions Reveals some Unexpected Correlations Between Protein and Lipid Components in a Lacertid Lizard

Pezzi, Stefano; Fumagalli, Marco; Coladonato, Alan Jioele; d’Ettorre, Patrizia; Leroy, Chloé; Bonnet, Xavier; Zuffi, Marco Alberto Luca; Scali, Stefano; Sacchi, Roberto

doi:10.1007/s10886-019-01092-2

Cited by 13 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…More elaborate behavioral research is necessary to find out (1) whether color morph-specific differences in chemical signatures are functional, in that lizards can discriminate based on scent alone, and (2) whether lizards can discriminate color morphs on the multicomponent profile of the femoral secretions or if discrimination is based solely on individual compounds and changes in their proportions. In addition, since recent findings suggest that also the proteinic fraction of femoral secretions can play a role in lizard intraspecific communication (Mangiacotti et al, 2017;Mangiacotti et al, 2019a;Mangiacotti et al, 2019b;Mangiacotti et al, 2019c), future studies that combine proteinic and lipophilic assessments of chemical signals should be encouraged.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trait differences among discrete morphs of a color polymorphic lizard,Podarcis erhardii

Brock

Baeckens

Donihue

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Color polymorphism defies evolutionary expectations as striking phenotypic variation is maintained within a single species. Color and other traits mediate social interactions, and stable polymorphism within a population is hypothesized to be related to correlational selection of other phenotypic traits among color morphs. Here, we report on a previously unknown throat color polymorphism in the Aegean Wall Lizard (Podarcis erhardii) and examine morph-correlated differences in traits important to social behavior and communication: maximum bite force capacity and chemical signal profile. We find that both sexes of P. erhardii have three color morphs: orange, yellow, and white. Moreover, orange males are significantly larger and tend to bite harder than yellow and white males. Although the established color polymorphism only partially matches the observed intraspecific variation in chemical signal signatures, the chemical profile of the secretions of orange males is significantly divergent from that of white males. Our findings suggest that morph colors are related to differences in traits that are crucial for social interactions and competitive ability, illustrating the need to look beyond color when studying polymorphism evolution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trait differences among discrete morphs of a color polymorphic lizard,Podarcis erhardii

Brock

Baeckens

Donihue

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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“…Finally, we clearly showed that several components of the leukogram are characterized by a regular pattern of variation above and below the reference values during spring-summer, possibly reflecting seasonal variation in temperature or for other factors, namely hormone plasma levels [ 57 , 58 ]. Indeed, reference values of WBC and lymphocytes sensibly decreased during the peak of the breeding season (May), whereas heterophils and eosinophils increased.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Statistical methodology for the evaluation of leukocyte data in wild reptile populations: A case study with the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Sacchi

Scali²,

Coladonato

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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The leukocyte profile has the potential to be a reliable method to measure health conditions and stress in wild animals, but limitations occur because current knowledge on reference intervals is largely incomplete, especially because data come from studies on captive animals involving few individuals from single populations. Here we propose a general framework for achieving reliable leukocyte reference intervals, encompassing a set of internal and external factors, potentially affecting the leukogram. To do so, we present a systematic survey of the hematology of the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis , involving 794 lizards from 54 populations over the whole geographic range of the species in Italy. Reference intervals for white blood cell (WBC) and leukocyte differential count were obtained by using linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework. The application of the procedure clearly showed that both internal (sex and size) and external (latitude and season) factors are a source of variation of leukocyte profile. Furthermore, the leukogram of common wall lizard has a strong variability among populations, which accounts for more than 50% of the whole variation. Consequently, some common assumptions used in studies on captive individuals are no longer supported in wild populations, namely, i) any group of individuals is a representative sample, ii) any population is representative of all others, iii) geographic clines do not occur over the species range, and iv) seasonal variation has limited effects. We encourage researchers aimed at the definition of leukocyte reference intervals for wild populations of reptiles to involve a large number of populations over a wide geographic range in ad hoc statistical models to disentangle local and geographic effects on leukocyte profile variation.

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“…Third, the PC scores were analysed through random intercept linear mixed models (LMM) including a single-component cosinor function to model the effect of the season ( Refinetti et al, 2007 ; Cornelissen, 2014 ). Cosinor models were originally developed to model circadian rhythm in physiological processes ( Halberg et al, 1967 ), but they can be also used to model periodic variations in ecological variables ( Mangiacotti et al, 2019 ; Sacchi et al, 2020 ). In Cosinor models the response variable (Y) is assumed to depend on time (t) following a regular cycle, which is incorporated in a linear model through a cosine function: where M is the MESOR (Midline Statistic Of Rhythm, i.e.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of variations in dorsal colouration of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus

et al. 2021

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Research on animal colouration has grown exponentially in the last decade thanks to multidisciplinary approaches. Most studies were focused on trade-offs between communication and mimicry, which represent the two main constraints and drivers of the evolution of body colourations. Reptiles are excellent model species in order to investigate such field of study and lizards in particular show great variability of body colourations and their functions. We studied the lizard Podarcis siculus analysing the variations of dorsal colour of three populations and we obtained clear patterns of seasonal and ontogenetical variation of dorsal colour. According to baseline colour, males were greener and brighter than females, although no difference in saturation was recorded. According to seasonal variations, analyses showed that both sexes significantly vary in colour during the year: males reached higher peaks of hue and saturation later than females during spring; contrastingly, females showed higher peaks of brightness, reached earlier similarly to hue and saturation. Ontogenetic variations were recorded only in males, which become greener, less bright and saturated with growing size. Therefore, our results suggest the occurrence of two opposed strategies in colour expression between sexes: males' dorsal colouration plays a major role in communication, while females are more crypsis-oriented.

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Seasonal Variations in Femoral Gland Secretions Reveals some Unexpected Correlations Between Protein and Lipid Components in a Lacertid Lizard

Cited by 13 publications

References 66 publications

Trait differences among discrete morphs of a color polymorphic lizard,Podarcis erhardii

Trait differences among discrete morphs of a color polymorphic lizard,Podarcis erhardii

Statistical methodology for the evaluation of leukocyte data in wild reptile populations: A case study with the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Patterns of variations in dorsal colouration of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus

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