Responses of female rock lizards to multiple scent marks of males: Effects of male age, male density and scent over-marking

摘要: Scent-marked substrates may inform conspecifics on the characteristics of territorial males. Scent-marks male Carpetan rock lizards (Iberolacerta cyreni) affect space use females, which by selecting an area increase probability mating with that has scent-marked area. However, males do not hold exclusive territories, and scent-marks different individual are often together. This provide complex information from multiple sources social structure. Here, we examined female preference in response to scent marks various combinations a laboratory experiment. Females preferred areas old against those young satellite-sneaker reflected known females for In second experiment, two similar size marked single male. obtaining copulations males, favour sperm competition cryptic choice, or be way avoid infertile Finally, when experimentally over-marked male, did avoid, nor prefer, area, suggesting quality override presence satellite We suggest that, irrespective causes underlying why selects this strategy her reproductive success, have same evolutionary consequences “direct” mate choice decisions other animals.