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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

No survival costs for sexually selected traits in a polygynous non-territorial lizard

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Author(s):
Guimaraes, Murilo [1, 2] ; Munguia-Steyer, Roberto [3] ; Doherty, Jr., Paul F. [4] ; Sawaya, Ricardo J. [5]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Zool, BR-91501970 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil
[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Programa Posgrad Ecol, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Estudios Super Iztacala, Unidad Morfol & Func, Ave Barrios 1, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado De Mexic - Mexico
[4] Colorado State Univ, Fish Wildlife & Conservat Biol Dept, Ft Collins, CO 80523 - USA
[5] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society; v. 122, n. 3, p. 614-626, NOV 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 4
Abstract

Polygyny is a common mating system in lizards. In polygynous species, males usually display status badges and use weaponry to prevent reproductive access of competitors to mates. Such secondary sexual traits are frequently linked to signalling costs and the handicap principle is widely used to explain the potential reduction of fitness components. Here, we (1) evaluate the allometric relationship of two known secondary sexual traits with body size: head width (a weapon) and the total coloured lateral area (an ornament), (2) assess the effects of such traits on male and female survival probabilities and (3) evaluate patterns of linear and quadratic selection of both traits for the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus cf. ocellifer. We detected evidence of sexual dimorphism in both traits, but contrary to our expectations, both sexes presented hyperallometric growth of both weapon size and badge size. We found no support for the handicap principle since no detrimental effects of secondary sexual traits were found on individual survival probability. Furthermore, no evidence of directional selection, neither stabilizing nor disruptive selection was found. The costs of faking signals in male animal contests could maintain the honesty, as previously suggested. (AU)