Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2025
07:55
Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles
Published on: February 7, 2019
10.9K
Climate and Socio-Sexual Environment Predict Interpopulation Variation in Chemical Signaling Glands in a Widespread
Cristina Romero-Diaz1, Fernando Gómez Ramírez1, Prem Aguilar2,3,4
1Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Integrative Zoology
|December 8, 2024
Summary
Phenotypic variation in the common wall lizard
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Animal behavior
- Ecology
Background:
- Intraspecific phenotypic variation is common in widespread species.
- Environmental heterogeneity can drive this variation and lead to reproductive isolation.
- Morphological traits linked to communication are key areas of study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interpopulation variation in femoral pore number (FP) in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis).
- To determine the roles of genetic factors versus local adaptation in driving FP variation.
- To assess the influence of climate and the socio-sexual environment on FP divergence.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed FP in 3,437 individuals from 55 Pyrenean populations.
- Used genomic differentiation to assess population structure.
- Correlated FP variation with environmental (climate, vegetation) and socio-sexual (sexual size dimorphism, sex ratio) factors.
Main Results:
- Significant interpopulation variation and sexual dimorphism in FP were observed.
- Genomic differentiation was high, influenced by geographic and environmental distances.
- FP variation was best predicted by allometry, sexual selection intensity (SSD), and local climate.
Conclusions:
- Local adaptation to environmental and socio-sexual conditions drives interpopulation divergence in FP.
- Changes in climate and social dynamics may impact chemical communication in this species.
- FP variation is a key adaptation for maintaining chemical communication efficacy.
Related Concept Videos
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.5K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.5K
01:08Chemical Signaling in the Endocrine System
3.1K
A signaling cascade is a series of events that facilitates the transmission of information within or between cells, culminating in a targeted response in the recipient cell. As chemical messengers, hormones are pivotal in initiating and modulating these intricate signaling cascades based on their solubility.
Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroid hormones, demonstrate an intracellular action. These hormones traverse cell membranes due to their lipid nature. Once inside the target cell, they...
Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroid hormones, demonstrate an intracellular action. These hormones traverse cell membranes due to their lipid nature. Once inside the target cell, they...
3.1K
01:46Types of Selection
40.2K
Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
40.2K
01:20Mate Choice
8.0K
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
8.0K
01:19Regulation of Hormone Secretion
3.2K
Regulation of hormone secretion is a finely tuned orchestration driven by various types of stimuli, encompassing neural, humoral, and hormonal signals. Environmental cues instigate neural stimuli, where action potentials traverse nerve fibers to reach their designated targets. An illustrative scenario is the body's response to stress, wherein the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from the adrenal glands, inducing the well-known 'fight or flight' reaction.
Humoral...
Humoral...
3.2K
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
91
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
91