Chemoreception, symmetry and mate choice in lizards

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Animal Behavior
• Chemical Ecology

Background:

• Sexual selection often relies on visual signals, but chemical communication is crucial for many species, especially in mate attraction.
• In lizards, visual traits are rarely the basis for female mate choice, suggesting alternative signaling mechanisms.
• Male femoral glands produce pheromones that may convey information about developmental stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if female lizards (Lacerta monticola) can assess male developmental stability through chemical cues alone.
• To determine if fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in male femoral pores influences female scent preference.
• To explore the role of chemical signals in adaptive female choice in lizards.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory experiment presenting females with scents from males of similar body size but varying FA levels.
• Analysis of female preference based on association with scent-marked areas.
• Quantification of fluctuating asymmetry in male femoral pores.

Main Results:

• Females preferentially associated with scents from males exhibiting lower fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in their femoral pores.
• Female preference was also correlated with a higher number of femoral pores in males.
• Results indicate females can discriminate male quality via chemical signals.

Conclusions:

• Female lizards use chemical cues from male femoral glands to assess developmental stability and genetic quality.
• Scent signals, specifically related to FA and pore number, serve as a basis for adaptive female mate choice in lizards.
• Pheromones likely communicate heritable genetic quality, influencing female reproductive decisions.