Intensity of male-male competition predicts morph diversity in a color polymorphic lizard.

摘要: Sexual selection is one of the main processes involved in emergence and maintenance heritable colour polymorphisms a variety taxa. Here we test whether intensity sexual selection, estimated from population sex ratio, predicts morph diversity Podarcis muralis, polymorphic lizard with discrete white, yellow, orange, white-orange, yellow-orange male female phenotypes (i.e. morphs). In sample 116 Pyrenean populations 5421 lizards, ratios (m/f) vary 0.29 to 2.5, number morphs for each ranging 2 5. Male-biased are associated increased as measured Shannon's index. The factor accounting this relationship richness contrast, not related ratio. These results suggest between intrasexual competition diversity. While other selective forces may interact maintaining P. evidence suggests complex evolutionary scenario possibly involving frequency-dependent alternative reproductive tactics and/or balancing selection. This article protected by copyright. All rights reserved