Journal article
Sex steroid correlates of female-specific colouration, behaviour and reproductive state in Lake Eyre dragon lizards, Ctenophorus maculosus
TS Jessop, R Chan, D Stuart-Fox
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Neuroethology Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology | Published : 2009
Abstract
In some species, females develop bright colouration to signal reproductive status and exhibit behavioural repertoires to incite male courtship and/or reduce male harassment and forced copulation. Sex steroids, including progesterone and testosterone, potentially mediate female reproductive colouration and reproductive behaviour. We measured associations among plasma profiles of testosterone and progesterone with variation in colour expression and reproductive behaviour, including unique courtship rejection behaviours, in female Lake Eyre dragon lizards, (Ctenophorus maculosus). At onset of breeding, progesterone and testosterone increased with vitellogenesis, coincident with colour intensifi..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Adnan Moussalli for assistance in the Weld, Mats Olsson for advice and expertise through the course of the project and Cindy and Trevor Mitchell for their hospitality at Muloorina Station. Funding was from the Australian Research Council and the University of Melbourne. South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage permit to undertake scientific research S25421_1; Wildlife Ethics Committee approval 13/2007; University of Melbourne Animal Ethics Committee approval 0701400.1.