How dewlap color reflects its carotenoid and pterin content in male and female brown anoles (Norops sagrei)

Steffen, John E.; McGraw, Kevin J.

doi:10.1016/j.cbpb.2009.07.009

Cited by 51 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…We did not have the opportunity to test the pigment content of dewlaps in our experimental animals, so this idea cannot be assessed with the data on hand. However, Steffen and McGraw (2009) found that drosopterin concentration did not correlate with xanthophyll concentration in another central Florida population sampled two years earlier, and this lack of inter-pigmentary correlation suggests an absence of such compensation in Brown Anoles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…This order was chosen because in most UV-sensitive spectrometric studies of animal coloration (as well as the present study), PC1 typically describes variation in overall brightness (Cuthill et al, 1999). Since yellow brightness correlated with xanthophylls in a correlative study investigating how pigments generate color in Brown Anole dewlaps (Steffen and McGraw, 2009), we assigned it the highest priority. Red brightness was assigned second highest priority because xanthophylls also likely influence portions of the red spectral curve (i.e., yellow and red make orange).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carotenoid Access, Nutritional Stress, and the Dewlap Color of Male Brown Anoles

Steffen¹,

Hill²,

Guyer³

2010

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carotenoid Access, Nutritional Stress, and the Dewlap Color of Male Brown Anoles

Steffen¹,

Hill²,

Guyer³

2010

Copeia

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“…Recent studies on Anolis (Steffen and McGraw, 2009) and Sceloporus (Weiss, Foerster and Hudon, 2012) lizards suggest a possible role for pteridine pigments. Melanins could also be relevant to indicator mechanism methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Melanin-based colouration as a potential indicator of male quality in the lizard Zootoca vivipara (Squamata: Lacertidae)

2013

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In many animals, aspects of colouration are hypothesized to convey information on the body condition or quality of individuals. This idea has been tested primarily for the carotenoid-based component of body colouration. The significance of other pigments in this context has received far less attention. In the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara, the degree of black patterning on the ventrum and throats is sexually dimorphic and varies considerably among individuals. In this study, we examine whether this melanin-based component of body colouration may reflect individual differences in quality (SVL, condition, immune response). We find that males (but not females) with a higher degree of ventral patterning mount a stronger phytohcmagglutinin-induced immune response. The amount of black patterning does not correlate with body size, body condition, aspects of dorsal colouration or parasite load. We conclude that in male Zootoca vivipara, melanin-based ventral colouration may signal an aspect of immune capacity to sexual rivals or potential partners.

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“…Carotenoid and pteridine pigments are known from squamates [49]–[52] and produce red coloration when pigments are present and white or cream coloration when they are not. Red can be produced by one or the other of these pigment types [49], [52], or both pigment types may be present [50], [51]. The production of pteridine pigments is likely activated during embryonic and fetal development as part of the pteridine biosynthetic pathway [53], [52].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bold Colors in a Cryptic Lineage: Do Eastern Indigo Snakes Exhibit Color Dimorphism?

2013

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Many species exhibit variation in the color of their scales, feathers, or fur. Various forms of natural selection, such as mimicry, crypsis, and species recognition, as well as sexual selection, can influence the evolution of color. Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi), a federally threatened species, have coloration on the sides of the head and the chin that can vary from black to red or cream. Despite significant conservations efforts for this species, little is known about its biology in the field. Past researchers have proposed that the color variation on the head and chin is associated with the sex of the individual. Alternatively, color might vary among individuals because it is controlled by genes that are under natural selection or neutral evolution. We tested these alternative hypotheses by examining whether coloration of the sublabial, submaxillary, and ventral scales of this species differed by sex or among clutches. We used color spectrometry to characterize important aspects of color in two ways: by examining overall color differences across the entire color spectrum and by comparing differences within the ultraviolet, yellow, and red colorbands. We found that Eastern Indigo Snakes do not exhibit sexual dichromatism, but their coloration does vary among clutches; therefore, the pattern of sexual selection leading to sexual dichromatism observed in many squamates does not appear to play a role in the evolution and maintenance of color variation in Eastern Indigo Snakes. We suggest that future studies should focus on determining whether color variation in these snakes is determined by maternal effects or genetic components and if color is influenced by natural selection or neutral evolutionary processes. Studying species that exhibit bright colors within lineages that are not known for such coloration will contribute greatly to our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological factors that drive these differences.

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How dewlap color reflects its carotenoid and pterin content in male and female brown anoles (Norops sagrei)

Cited by 51 publications

References 48 publications

Carotenoid Access, Nutritional Stress, and the Dewlap Color of Male Brown Anoles

Carotenoid Access, Nutritional Stress, and the Dewlap Color of Male Brown Anoles

Melanin-based colouration as a potential indicator of male quality in the lizard Zootoca vivipara (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Bold Colors in a Cryptic Lineage: Do Eastern Indigo Snakes Exhibit Color Dimorphism?

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