Journal article
Behavioural differences across contexts may indicate morph-specific strategies in the lizard Ctenophorus decresii
MSC Yewers, S Pryke, D Stuart-Fox
Animal Behaviour | Published : 2016
Abstract
Discrete colour polymorphisms are often genetically correlated with other traits under natural and sexual selection, such as behaviour, life history and physiology. Elucidating such correlations is essential to understand the adoption of alternative strategies between morphs and the role they play in the maintenance of colour polymorphisms within a population. Using field experiments, we tested the hypothesis that four visually discrete morphs (orange, yellow, yellow with a central orange patch (orange-yellow) and grey) of the tawny dragon lizard, Ctenophorus decresii, display alternative behavioural strategies. Specifically, we compared the response of colour morphs to simulated conspecific..
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Awarded by Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment
Funding Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Rachael Bartlett, Enrique Cruz, Fran LyndonGee, Sarah Grogan, Jessica Hacking, David Hamilton, Jenni Hetz, Molly Hunter, Claire McLean, Adnan Moussalli, Montse Sutulov, Tim Tan, Luisa Teasdale, Bryant Turffs and Peter Yewers for help in the field. We thank Associate Professor Graham Hepworth from the Statistical Consulting Centre at The University of Melbourne for statistical assistance. This work was supported by the Australia Research Council (DP1092908) to D.S-F., the Nature Foundation South Australia, Australian Postgraduate Award and the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment to M.S.Y. We acknowledge and recognize the Adnyamathanha people, traditional owners of Your-ambulla Caves Historic Reserve. Permission to access cultural sites was obtained from the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division, South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet and local Aboriginal elders.