Conspicuous male coloration impairs survival against avian predators in Aegean wall lizards, Podarcis erhardii.

摘要: Animal coloration is strikingly diverse in nature. Within-species color variation can arise through local adaptation for camouflage, sexual dimorphism and conspicuous signals, which often have conflicting effects on survival. Here, we tested whether between two island populations of Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii) due to differential survival individuals varying appearance. On both islands, measured attack rates by wild avian predators clay models matching the real male female P. erhardii from each population, modeled predator vision. Avian differed among model treatments, although only one island. Male-colored models, were more against their experimental backgrounds predators, accordingly detected attacked frequently birds than less female-colored models. This suggests that has evolved primarily under selection whereas sexually competing males exhibit costly coloration. Unexpectedly, there was no difference frequency non-local types. may arisen if did not resemble lizard with sufficient precision, or behaviorally choose improve camouflage. Overall, these results show dimorphic affect risk attacks, indicating within a species be caused interactions natural selection. However, work needed determine how findings depend environment population inhabits.