title: Colour assortative pairing in a colour polymorphic lizard is independent of population morph diversity.
abstract: Previous work with a colour polymorphic population of Podarcis muralis (Lacertidae) revealed that lizards pair by ventral colour, favouring the same colour (i.e. homomorphic) pairs. Such assortative pairing, which probably results in colour assortative mating, can have consequences for the genetic structure of the population and potentially promote speciation. The population previously studied, located in the Pyrenees, encompasses white, yellow and orange animals, as well as intermediate white-orange and yellow-orange morphs. However, other Pyrenean populations of P. muralis have less ventral colour morphs. Our aim in this study is to test the generality of the assortative colour pairing system, extending our previous analyses to populations with different morph compositions and frequencies. The results show that the assortative pattern of pairing is similar in all the populations analysed and, hence, independent of morph composition and not restricted to pentamorphic populations. This suggests that assortative pairing by colour is a general phenomenon for colour polymorphic populations of P. muralis.
authors.affiliation: CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, No 7. 4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal. guillem.perez@cibio.up.pt.
authors.forename: Guillem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez I de Lanuza
authors.affiliation: Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, APDO 22085, 46071, València, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Font
authors.affiliation: CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, No 7. 4485-661 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Carretero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010858:Pigmentation; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Assortative mating; Colour polymorphism; Population morph complexity