Condition- and context-dependent variation of sexual dimorphism across lizard populations at different spatial scales.

ABSTRACT: The evolution of sexual dimorphism (SD) is driven by intricate interplays between sexual and natural selection. When it comes to SD variation within populations, however, environmental factors play a major role. Sexually selected traits are expected to be strongly dependent on individual body condition, which is influenced by the local environment that individuals experience. As a consequence, the degree of SD may also depend on resource availability. Here, we investigated the potential drivers of SD expression at two sexually dimorphic morphometric traits, body size (snout vent length) and head shape (head geometric morphometrics), in the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). We assessed the existence of condition- and context-dependent SD across ten islands of the Aeolian archipelago (

SUBMITTER: Muraro M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9550790 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature