| Title: | Increased predation risk modifies lizard scent-mark chemicals |
| Author(s): | Aragon P; Lopez P; Martin J; |
| Address: | "Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain. paragon@mncn.csic.es" |
| Journal Title: | J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-5223 (Print) 1932-5223 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Variation in environmental factors plays a central role on organisms' physiological changes. However, the physiological response to predation risk has rarely been investigated in reptiles. Chemical senses are important for intraspecific communication in squamate reptiles. In male lizards Iberolacerta cyreni the maintenance of relative proportions of lipids in femoral gland secretions is costly, which may ensure honest signalling of quality. We hypothesized that increased predation risk should compromise the maintenance of such lipid proportions, as both a fear response and escaping behavior can have physiological consequences. We simulated predator attacks and found that relative proportions of lipids in femoral gland secretions changed in disturbed lizards but not in control ones. Thus, predator-prey interactions may modulate relative concentrations of chemicals in scents of lizards. Potential consequences of this effect on intraspecific chemical communication are suggested" |
| Keywords: | "Animal Communication Animals Behavior, Animal/physiology Lizards/*physiology Male Pheromones/*physiology Predatory Behavior/*physiology Scent Glands/physiology;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineAragon, Pedro Lopez, Pilar Martin, Jose eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/06/03 J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol. 2008 Aug 1; 309(7):427-33. doi: 10.1002/jez.468" |
