Journal article
Female ornamentation influences male courtship investment in a lizard
D Stuart-Fox, JL Goode
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution | FRONTIERS MEDIA SA | Published : 2014
Abstract
Female signals of reproductive status often comprise both distinctive color patches and behaviors but their relative influence on male courtship investment is unclear. We examined the role of female-specific coloration in signaling reproductive condition and quality to males in the Lake Eyre dragon lizard, Ctenophorus maculosus. Females of this species develop intense orange ventral coloration when sexually receptive, which fades to white only after laying. To separate the effect of color and behavior, we manipulated the presence of female orange ventral coloration within different periods of the reproductive cycle in which females display qualitatively different behaviors. In a separate man..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Awarded by University of Melbourne
Awarded by South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage
Awarded by Wildlife Ethics Committee
Awarded by University of Melbourne Animal Ethics Committee
Funding Acknowledgements
Funding was from the Australian Research Council (DP0772215) and the University of Melbourne (ECR 600065). 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.