Female preference for sympatric vs. allopatric male throat color morphs in the mesquite lizard (Sceloporus grammicus) species complex.

摘要: Color polymorphic sexual signals are often associated with alternative reproductive behaviors within populations, and the number, frequency, or type of morphs present vary among populations. When these differences lead to assortative mating by population, study such taxa may shed light on speciation mechanisms. We studied two populations a lizard throat color, an important signal. Males in one population exhibit orange, yellow, blue throats; whereas males other white throats. assessed female behavior when choosing between allopatric sympatric males. asked whether females discriminated more male was unfamiliar morph than similar coloration male. found that rejection relative pronounced pair were different color. Our findings help illuminate how behavioral responses color contribute isolation.