Lifetime and intergenerational fitness consequences of harmful male interactions for female lizards.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Animal behavior
• Reproductive ecology

Background:

• Harmful male mating behaviors are observed across diverse species.
• Quantifying fitness consequences for females and offspring is crucial, especially in long-lived species.
• Limited research exists on the long-term impacts of male harm under natural conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the lifetime and intergenerational fitness consequences of harmful male interactions in female common lizards (Lacerta vivipara).
• To determine if direct costs of male harm are mitigated by compensatory responses or indirect benefits to offspring.

Main Methods:

• Field experiment manipulating population sex ratio to increase male exposure for females.
• Monitoring of female reproductive success and offspring development over two years in a common garden setting.
• Assessment of direct costs, compensatory responses, and indirect benefits (offspring growth, survival, mating success).

Main Results:

• Females exposed to increased male presence experienced immediate fitness costs and reduced lifetime reproductive success.
• Direct compensatory responses partially mitigated immediate fitness costs.
• No indirect benefits were observed through offspring growth, survival, or mating success.

Conclusions:

• Direct costs associated with harmful male mating behaviors in common lizards are substantial.
• These costs are not outweighed by indirect benefits conferred to offspring.
• Findings align with empirical evidence suggesting direct mating costs exceed indirect benefits.