Publication details
Model změn ve zbarvení ještěrek
| Title in English | Model of changes lizard coloration |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The coloration of an individual provides passive protection from predators and is therefore often considered camouflage. However, coloration may have other functions. In reptiles, we can observe variability in colour as well as the patterns created by the colors. The variability is present between species and also between individuals that belong to a single species. The coloration variability increases attractiveness of the individual and thus increases its sexual fitness. The distinctive coloration helps to repent the rivals in a non-conflicting way. The trade-off to sexually selected coloration can lead to an increased risk of predation. Natural selection should exclude the colour aberrations that fail to decrease predation risk in the particular environment. The wide range of habitats inhabited by the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) within its geographical range coincide with the occurrence of colour aberrations. The sand lizard is thus a suitable model for colour polymorphism studies. In our study, we focused on assessing differences in individual coloration of individuals during the active season at several biotopes using quantitative imaging techniques. By removing the effect of a particular colour pattern, we managed to compare colour changes and differentiate specific colour aberrations from the standard pattern. We created a mechanistic evolutionary model of the sand lizard colour. |