Meeting Abstract
Multiple mating is a common strategy in many species, and potential benefits include increased genetic diversity of offspring, higher chance of fertilization for females, and greater chances of survival for offspring. While it is well established that both polyandry and sperm storage in lizards occur, we want to determine the extent to which this happens in brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) under direct competition. Brown anoles lay one egg approximately every 7-10 days through the breeding season. Adult brown anoles from the field (n=110) were housed in groups of either 4 (2M:2F) or 6 (3M:3F) across 23 experimental enclosures and allowed to mate and produce eggs over one breeding season. We use microsatellite markers to genotype the offspring produced and to determine parentage. We are using these data to address the following questions: What is the extent and longevity of sperm storage from field mating prior to the experiment? What is the temporal pattern of multiple paternity across the breeding season in this captive population?
