Abstract
Sexual selection pressures play a significant role in driving the evolution of color, morphological, and behavioral traits that serve as signals to communicate fighting ability between opponents. In lizards, body and head size often predict the outcome of male-male contests, but these morphological signals are static during and after the contest. However, coloration and behaviors may be dynamic traits that change during interactions being a potential mechanism of continuous evaluation of current or future opponents. In this study, we examine the function of color change as a signal in agonistic interactions between males of the Achala copper lizard. Also, we examine the relationship between fighting ability and multiple traits, including body size, head size, behaviors, and coloration. Furthermore, we explore the variability of agonistic encounters between reproductive and non-reproductive periods. We performed dyadic trials between males to evaluate behavior and measure dorsal color before and after the trials. Results show that Pristidactylus achalensis can modify the lightness of their skin during intrasexual interaction, with winners displaying lighter colors than losers. We observed dramatic changes from very light green to totally dark coloration. Notably, color difference between competitors was distinguishable only after the trial, not before. Winners also displayed more push-up behaviors, predicting the outcome of the agonistic interactions. Additionally, we did not find differences in the behavioral repertoire between periods (reproductive vs non-reproductive). We suggest that push-up behavior and color change are essential signals that allow contenders to assess their opponent’s fighting ability from a distance without physical interaction and settle conflicts without escalating aggression.
Significance statement
Animals may use multiple signals in agonistic interactions to facilite opponent assessment. Although body size and morphological sexual traits usually predict outcome, these traits are static but the dynamic of the coloration through fast color change add an extra factor to interpret the communication. We examine the function of color change as a signal and the relation between fighting ability of an endemic lizard from highlands of central Argentina. We demonstrated that males possess the ability to change their color, and winners show lighter colors than the losers. We suggest color changes together with push-up behavior are essential signals for the resolution of the conflict allowing the contenders to assess the opponent from a distance without physical interaction.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to Guadalupe López Juri for providing assistance with field data collection and to Diego Uñates for helping with color analyzes. German Gonzalez provided helpful advice regarding statistical analyzes. Hotel La Posta (Cordoba) offers valuable logistical support in the fieldwork area, mountain guide Hernan Casasnovas provided value field observations and Martyna Kotowska offers advice regarding English corrections.
Funding
Funding was provided by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT), MinCyT-Préstamo BID-PICT. 2015 No. 497, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) PUE-2016 D2555/16 and PIP-2021 Number 67908, CO 112202000100028. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba) provided facilities for laboratory trials.
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Both authors conceived the ideas and designed the methodology. SN collected and analyzed the data. Both authors contributed to interpreting results, contributed critically to the drafts, and gave final approval for publication.
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The use of animals adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Animal Behavior Society/Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. We obtained the appropriate permissions for conducting the study at the mountain area in the Pampa de Achala Natural Reserve, from the Department of Fauna and Department of Natural Areas, both from Secretaria de Ambiente y Cambio Climático, Cordoba Provincial Government. The research was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal IDEA (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cordoba (protocol number CICUAL 1/2015 and 3/2018).
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Naretto, S., Chiaraviglio, M. Hoisting the white flag of surrender? Color change in agonistic encounters between Achala copper lizard males (Pristidactylus achalensis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 77, 116 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03389-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03389-5