Meeting Abstract

P1.82  Friday, Jan. 4  Color-morph-specific predation on clay models of side-blotch lizards, Uta stansburiana ZANI, P.A.; BECICH, N.B. *; University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point; Pomona College ncb02009@mymail.pomona.edu

The mechanisms behind the microevolution of color morphs of side-blotched lizard Uta stansburiana, in their western U.S. range are largely unstudied. Previous studies suggested that higher latitude populations of U.stansburiana tend to be more color-monomorphic, while populations farther south exhibit a greater range of color polymorphisms. It is unknown whether these color morphs experience different predation pressures within populations. Well-documented populations of orange morph U.stansburiana near Burns-Hines, OR are subjected to predation by mammals, birds, and snakes. We used clay models to measure predation rates for orange, yellow, and blue color morphs. Each color of clay model was exposed for approximately 3500 model hours during biologically relevant activity times for lizards. Blue models were nearly three times as likely to be attacked as either orange or yellow models. Differing predation rates across color morphs may indicate selection pressures against certain morphs and suggest possible explanations for morph-frequency differences between northern and southern populations of U.stansburiana.