Meeting Abstract

P1.8  Friday, Jan. 4  Fluctuating asymmetry in visual signals of male Sceloporus undulatus lizards CAIN, PW*; GARDNER, B; THAKER, M; HEWS, DK; Indiana State University; Indiana State University; Indian Institute of Science; Indiana State University pcain1@sycamores.indstate.edu

Fluctuating asymmetries (FA) are small deviations from bilateral symmetry in morphological traits resulting from suboptimal developmental conditions. Trait FA may be a measure of “quality” used by receivers. We asked if FA of three paired colored signaling patches differed in adult male Sceloporus undulatus lizards from a logged (n=12) and unlogged (n=30) site. Patch areas for each trait were calculated from digital images using Image-J. FA was significant for each trait, but sites did not differ in FA for any trait. Body-mass residuals differed significantly between logged (mean=-0.269) and unlogged sites (mean=0.108). We also asked if residual patch size (from regression of average patch size on snout-vent length) could convey information about relative body mass (a short-term “quality” measure). Patch size residuals significantly and positively correlated with residual body mass for abdominal blue patches only; relatively heavier males had relatively larger blue patches. Although FA for each trait did not differ between sites, stress effects from disturbance may be delayed and future generations may exhibit higher FA. Body-mass residuals differed between logged and unlogged sites, consistent with stress from disturbance. Disturbance may have been recent because an effect was detected in a “short-term” quality measure (body-mass residuals) and not a “long-term” measure (FA). We detected significant FA in the three traits, hence future work should determine if conspecific receivers assess FA in patch size, and whether conspecifics use body mass-residuals when assessing opponents.