Seleção sexual e modelagem visual em Ameivula ocellifera

Abstract

Sexual selection is responsible for the evolution of many conspicuous visual signals used in intra and interspecific communication of innumerous species. Lizards have acute visual systems with retinal photoreceptors that are sensitive to UV wavelengths, and some species use UV colour ornaments for communication. In this study, we used UV full-spectrum reflectance spectrophotometry to collect data from Ameivula ocellifera UV structural colouration. Using an arena-form experimental set, we obtained evidence for the role of UV signaling in sexual selection (mate choice and male-male interactions). Our results showed that UV chroma is important in female association preference, as females exhibit spatial preference for males of higher UV reflectance over males with experimentally reduced UV reflectance. We also found that A. ocellifera males with experimentally reduced UV reflectance were not more likely to lose contests than control males, although bigger the difference of UV reflectance between pairs, smaller the evaluation time between rivals before the contest. We also tested two male ornaments in A. ocellifera against morphological traits and physiological performance to assess whether colour signals are informative for male quality traits. We found that larger males had more intense short (UV) and medium wavelength chroma on dorsolateral eyespots and, in contrast, smaller-headed males had more intense UV chroma on outer ventral scales (OVS). We concluded that the same colour trait convey different messages depending on the body position of the signal, perhaps indicative of alternative signalling strategies. Moreover, higher brightness on OVS signals were associated with stronger bite force, being a reliable signal of fighting ability. These results suggest that there is a multiple signalling system in our model species. Finally, we modeled the visual system of A. ocellifera, snake and avian predators to access how colour patches appear to the receivers. We found that there are dichromatism between sexes, with UV signals of males more conspicuous in reflectance and highly distinguishable from females to conspecifics visual system. UV signals were highly perceptible from body colouration and from natural background to conspecifics and less but still perceptible to predators, agreeing with sensory drive hypothesis. This thesis enlighten the role of sexual signals and their importance on intra and interspecific communications in lizards. Our findings support further studies on evolution and behavior and expand the knowledge on natural and sexual selections initiated by Darwin.