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Stress-induced changes in color expression mediated by iridophores in a polymorphic lizard
Anna C Lewis1, Katrina J Rankin1, Andrew J Pask1
1School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia.
Stress impacts lizard throat coloration by altering structural color. Elevated corticosterone in male tawny dragon lizards made throat colors paler, affecting pattern visibility and potentially signaling individual condition.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Stress influences cellular pathways, including those for color signal expression.
- The cellular mechanisms linking stress and color expression are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of stress on throat color signal in male tawny dragon lizards (Ctenophorus decresii).
- To explore the cellular mechanisms underlying stress-induced changes in color expression.
Main Methods:
- Artificially elevated circulating corticosterone levels in male tawny dragon lizards.
- Analyzed changes in throat coloration (luminance, gray proportion, patterning).
- Utilized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine iridophore cell structure.
Main Results:
- Corticosterone treatment led to increased luminance (paler throats) and decreased gray proportion.
- Changes in luminance were perceptible to the lizards' visual system.
- TEM revealed that increased luminance correlated with iridophore density and altered guanine platelet spacing within iridophores.
Conclusions:
- Stress significantly impacts signal expression (luminance and patterning) in tawny dragon lizards.
- These stress-induced changes in coloration may convey information about an individual's condition.
- Structural coloration, mediated by iridophore cells, is a likely mechanism for stress effects on color.
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