Fit and fat from enlarged badges: a field experiment on male sand lizards.
To investigate the impact of nuptial coloration (the badge) on male fitness in the Swedish sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), we conducted a manipulation experiment in a natural population. Males in one group had their badges enlarged by being painted as cheaters and were compared to a control group with respect to mate acquisition, body condition and survival. Badge enlargement did not affect survival, but elevated mate acquisition by almost 400%, and body condition in small males. This increase in condition is likely to stem from greater access to female-associated sites with high food availability.
Anderholm
Sofia
S
Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg, Box 405, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Olsson
Mats
M
Wapstra
Erik
E
Ryberg
Karin
K
D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013548:Sweden