Abstract
In the eastern Adriatic, Podarcis siculus, an invasive species, competitively excludes the native Podarcis melisellensis. Monoamine neurotransmitters—serotonin (5HT), dopamine (DA), and noradrenaline (NA)—are implicated in social behavior, and could lie at the basis of the direct behavioral interference of P. siculus with P. melisellensis. To understand the relationship between social behavior and monoamines, as well as the differences in behavior between P. siculus and P. melisellensis, we developed a high-performance liquid chromatography (UV/VIS detection) method with which we were able to reliably measure concentrations of 5HT, DA, and NA in 32 brains of the two lizard species. We observed no statistically significant influence of species, sex, or their interaction on brain NA and 5HT concentrations. Statistically significant influence of species on dopamine levels were recorded, with P. siculus having twice as much dopamine in their brains. Taking into account that a significant aggressive relationship, with P. siculus dominating over P. melisellensis, has been previously observed, and that dopamine directly influences this behavior, the observed differences in dopamine levels could represent a trait in these species and may contribute to the competitive exclusion of P. melisellensis by P. siculus in the eastern Adriatic.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank MSc Dora Persic for her help during the adaptation of the method for HPLC separation, MSc Marko Glogoski for his assistance in the retrieval of the animals from the wild, and Marija Potocic for her assistance in caring for the animals during captivity.
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This study was funded by the Support from the University of Zagreb (UniZg PP0031 to DH). The funding source had no involvement in any stage of the research and publication of the results.
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Nikolic, B., Josic, P., Buric, D. et al. Coexisting lacertid lizard species Podarcis siculus and Podarcis melisellensis differ in dopamine brain concentrations. J Comp Physiol A 205, 451–456 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-019-01335-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-019-01335-3