Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Male Iberian rock lizards may reduce the costs of fighting by scent matching of the resource holders

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Animals should adopt strategies to minimize the costs of intraspecific aggressive interactions. For example, individuals should be able to identify resource holders in advance and avoid fighting with them because residents are generally more likely than intruders escalate aggression. It has been suggested that scent marks function mainly to allow competitor assessment by conveying the costs of entering a scent-marked area. Individuals may identify territory owners by comparing the scent of substrate marks with the scent of any conspecific they encounter nearby, assessing whether these two scents match or not, a mechanism known as scent matching. Here, we examined the response of male Iberolacerta cyreni lizards to areas scent-marked by other males and the potential role of scent matching in agonistic interactions. We designed a laboratory experiment where we allowed a male to explore the scent-marked substrate of another male, and then we immediately staged agonistic encounters in a nearby clean neutral area with either the male that had produced the scent marks (matching treatment) or with a different non-matching individual male. The higher chemosensory exploratory rates of substrate scent marks in comparison to clean substrates suggested that males detected and spent more time exploring scent marks to obtain information on the donor male. Moreover, this information was later used to decide the fighting strategy. Intruding males delayed time until the first agonistic interaction, reduced the intensity of fights and the number of aggressive interactions, and won less interactions with males which scent matched that of scent marks (because they would be considered as the territory owners) than with other non-matching individuals. Our results show that male I. cyreni lizards use scent matching as a mechanism to assess the ownership status of other males, which could contribute to modulate intrasexual aggression, reducing costs of agonistic interactions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberts AC (1992) Constraints on the design of chemical communication systems in terrestrial vertebrates. Am Nat 139:62–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alberts AC, Werner DI (1993) Chemical recognition of unfamiliar conspecifics by green iguanas: functional significance of different signal components. Anim Behav 46:197–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2000) Size-dependent chemosensory responses to familiar and unfamiliar conspecific faecal pellets by the Iberian rock-lizard, Lacerta monticola. Ethology 106:1115–1128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2001a) Chemosensory discrimination of familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics by lizards: implication of field spatial relationships between males. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 50:128–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2001b) Discrimination of femoral gland secretions from familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics by male Iberian rock-lizards, Lacerta monticola. J Herpetol 35:346–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2001c) Effects of conspecific chemical cues on settlement and retreat-site selection of male lizards, Lacerta monticola. J Herpetol 35:681–684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2003) Differential avoidance responses to chemical cues from familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics by male Iberian rock-lizards (Lacerta monticola). J Herpetol 37:583–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2004) The ontogeny of spatio-temporal tactics and social relationships of adult male Iberian rock lizards, Lacerta monticola. Ethology 110:1001–1019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón P, López P, Martín J (2006) Roles of male residence and relative size in the social behavior of Iberian rock lizards, Lacerta monticola. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 59:762–769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carazo P, Font E, Desfilis E (2007) Chemosensory assessment of rival competitive ability and scent mark function in a lizard (Podarcis hispanica). Anim Behav 74:895–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carazo P, Font E, Desfilis E (2008) Beyond ‘nasty neighbours’ and ‘dear enemies’? Individual recognition by scent marks in a lizard (Podarcis hispanica). Anim Behav 76:1953–1963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper WE Jr, Burghardt GM (1990) A comparative analysis of scoring methods for chemical discrimination of prey by squamate reptiles. J Chem Ecol 16:45–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edsman L (2001) Odours and ownership-scent matching in the territorial wall lizard. In: Vicente L, Crespo EG (eds) Mediterranean Basin lacertid lizards. A biological approach. Proceedings of the 2nd international symposium on the lacertids of the Mediterranean Basin. Instituto da Conservaçao da Naturaleza, Lisboa, p 133

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferkin MH, Sorokin ES, Johnston RE, Lee CJ (1997) Attractiveness of scents varies with protein content of the diet in meadow voles. Anim Behav 53:133–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Font E, Desfilis E (2002) Chemosensory recognition of familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics by juveniles of the Iberian wall lizard Podarcis hispanica. Ethology 108:319–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glinski TH, Krekorian CO’N (1985) Individual recognition in free-living adult male desert iguanas, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. J Herpetol 19:541–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosling LM (1982) A reassessment of the function of scent marking in territories. Z Tierpsychol 60:89–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosling LM (1990) Scent-marking by resource holders: alternative mechanisms for advertising the costs of competition. In: MacDonald DW, Müller-Schwarze D, Natynczuk SE (eds) Chemical signals in vertebrates, vol 5. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 315–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosling LM, McKay HV (1990) Competitor assessment by scent matching: an experimental test. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 26:415–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosling LM, Roberts SC (2001) Scent-marking by male mammals: cheat-proof signals to competitors and mates. Adv Stud Behav 30:169–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grafen A (1987) The logic of divisively asymmetric contest: respect for ownership and the desperado effect. Anim Behav 35:462–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntingford F, Turner A (1987) Animal conflict. Chapman and Hall, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurst JL, Hall S, Roberts R, Christian C (1996) Social organization in the aboriginal house mouse, Mus spretus Lataste: behavioural mechanisms underlying the spatial dispersion of competitors. Anim Behav 51:327–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husak JF, Fox SF (2003) Adult male collared lizards, Crotaphytus collaris, increase aggression towards displaced neighbours. Anim Behav 65:391–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs JR (1982) Territorial defence in the great tit, Parus major: do residents always win? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 11:185–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs JR, Dawkins R (1983) Animal signals: mind-reading and manipulation. In: Krebs JR, Davies NB (eds) Behavioural ecology: an evolutionary approach, 2nd edn. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 380–402

    Google Scholar 

  • LaDage LD, Ferkin MH (2006) Male leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) can discriminate between two familiar females. Behaviour 143:1033–1049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López P, Martín J (2001) Fighting rules and rival recognition reduce costs of aggression in male lizards, Podarcis hispanica. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 49:111–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López P, Martín J (2002) Chemical rival recognition decreases aggression levels in male Iberian wall lizards, Podarcis hispanica. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 51:461–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López P, Aragón P, Martín J (1998) Iberian rock lizards (Lacerta monticola cyreni) assess conspecific information using composite signals from faecal pellets. Ethology 104:809–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López P, Amo L, Martín J (2006) Reliable signaling by chemical cues of male traits and health state in male lizards, Lacerta monticola. J Chem Ecol 32:473–488

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luque-Larena JJ, López P, Gosálbez J (2001) Scent matching modulates space use and agonistic behaviour between male snow voles Chionomys nivalis. Anim Behav 62:1089–1095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marler CA, Moore MC (1988) Evolutionary costs of aggression revealed by testosterone manipulations in free-living male lizards. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 23:21–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marler CA, Moore MC (1989) Time and energy costs of aggression in testosterone-implanted free-living male mountain spiny lizards (Sceloporus jarrovi). Physiol Zool 62:1334–1350

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marler CA, Walsberg G, White ML, Moore M (1995) Increased energy expenditure due to increased territorial defense in male lizards after phenotypic manipulation. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 37:225–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín J, López P (2007) Scent may signal fighting ability in male Iberian rock lizards. Biol Lett 3:125–127

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martín J, López P (2011) Pheromones and reproduction in reptiles. In: Norris DO, Lopez KH (eds) Hormones and reproduction of vertebrates: reptiles, vol 3. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 141–167

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Martín J, Salvador A (1993) Tail loss reduces mating success in the Iberian rock-lizard. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 32:185–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín J, Salvador A (1997) Microhabitat selection by the Iberian rock-lizard Lacerta monticola: effects on density and spatial distribution of individuals. Biol Conserv 79:303–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins EP, Ord TJ, Slaven J, Wright JL, Housworth EA (2006) Individual, sexual, seasonal, and temporal variation in the amount of sagebrush lizard scent marks. J Chem Ecol 32:881–893

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason RT (1992) Reptilian pheromones. In: Gans C, Crews D (eds) Biology of the reptilia, vol 18. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 114–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason RT, Parker MR (2010) Social behavior and pheromonal communication in reptiles. J Comp Phys A 196:729–749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J (1982) Evolution and the theory of games. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J, Parker GA (1976) The logic of asymmetric contests. Anim Behav 24:159–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Schwarze D (2006) Chemical ecology of vertebrates. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson M (1992) Contest success in relation to size and residence in male sand lizards, Lacerta agilis. Anim Behav 44:386–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson M (1994) Rival recognition affects male contest behavior in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 35:249–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne L (2005) Rival recognition in the territorial tawny dragon (Ctenophorus decresii). Acta Ethol 8:45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Mellado V (1998) Lacerta monticola Boulenger, 1905. In: Salvador A (ed) Reptiles. Fauna Ibérica, vol 10. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, pp 207–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvador A, Díaz JA, Veiga JP, Bloor P, Brown RP (2008) Correlates of reproductive success in male lizards of the alpine species Iberolacerta cyreni. Behav Ecol 19:169–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel S, Castellan NJ (1988) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons RR, Jaeger RG, Felgenhauer BE (1997) Competitor assessment and area defence by territorial salamanders. Copeia 1997:70–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamps JA (1995) Motor learning and the value of familiar space. Am Nat 146:41–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamps JA, Krishnan VV (1994) Territory acquisition in lizards: I. First encounters. Anim Behav 47:1375–1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun L, Müller-Schwarze D (1998) Beaver response to recurrent alien scents: scent fence or scent match? Anim Behav 55:1529–1536

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whiting MJ (1999) When to be neighbourly: differential agonistic responses in the lizard Platysaurus broadleyi. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 46:210–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt TD (2003) Pheromones and animal behaviour. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and ‘El Ventorrillo’ MNCN Field Station for use of their facilities. The experiments enforced all the present Spanish laws and were performed under license from the Environmental Organisms of Madrid Community where they were carried out. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación project MCI-CGL2008-02119/BOS.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, C.S.I.C., José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Pilar López & José Martín

Authors
  1. Pilar López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Martín
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Martín.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Downes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

López, P., Martín, J. Male Iberian rock lizards may reduce the costs of fighting by scent matching of the resource holders. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 65, 1891–1898 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1198-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1198-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation