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Gábor Herczeg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) personalities: Linking behavioural types to ecologically relevant traits at different ontogenetic stages
Behavioural processes, 2014Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gergely Horváth, László Zsolt Garamszegi, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Consistent individual differences within (animal personality) and across (behavioural syndrome) behaviours became well recognized during the past decade. Nevertheless, our knowledge about the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms behind the phenomena is still incomplete. Here, we explored if risk-taking and exploration were consistent and linked to different ecologically relevant traits in wild-caught adult male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis) and in their 2–3 weeks old laboratory-reared offspring. Both adults and juveniles displayed animal personality, consistency being higher in juveniles. We found correlation between risk-taking and exploration (suggestive of a behavioural syndrome) only in adults. Juveniles were more explorative than adults. Large or ectoparasite-free adult males were more explorative than small or parasitized males. Juvenile females tended to be more risk-taking than males. Behaviour of fathers and their offspring did not correlate. We conclude that European Green Lizards show high behavioural consistency and age is an important determinant of its strength and links to traits likely affecting fitness.
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Negative correlation between nuptial throat colour and blood parasite load in male European Green Lizards supports the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis
Naturwissenschaften, 2013Co-Authors: Orsolya Molnár, Katalin Bajer, Boglárka Mészáros, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:During female mate choice, conspicuous male sexual signals are used to infer male quality and choose the best sire for the offspring. The theory of parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis) presumes that parasite infection can influence the elaboration of sexual signals: resistant individuals can invest more energy into signal expression and thus advertise their individual quality through signal intensity. By preferring these males, females can provide resistance genes for their offspring. Previous research showed that nuptial throat colour of male European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis , plays a role in both inter- and intrasexual selections as a condition-dependent multiple signalling system. The aim of this study was to test the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis on male European Green Lizards. By blood sampling 30 adult males during the reproductive season, we found members of the Haemogregarinidae family in all but one individual (prevalence = 96 %). The infection intensity showed strong negative correlation with the throat and belly colour brightness in line with the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis. In addition, we found other correlations between infection intensity and other fitness-related traits, suggesting that parasite load has a remarkable effect on individual fitness. This study shows that throat patch colour of the European Green Lizards not only is a multiple signalling system but also possibly acts as an honest sexual signal of health state in accordance with the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis.
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Ultraviolet nuptial colour determines fight success in male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis).
Biology letters, 2011Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Animal communication through colour signals is a central theme in sexual selection. Structural colours can be just as costly and honest signals as pigment-based colours. Ultraviolet (UV) is a structural colour that can be important both in intrasexual competition and mate choice. However, it is still unknown if a UV signal alone can determine the outcome of male–male fights. European Green Lizard ( Lacerta viridis ) males develop a nuptial throat coloration with a strong UV component. Among males differing only in their manipulated UV colour, females prefer males with higher UV. Here, we experimentally decreased the UV coloration of randomly chosen males from otherwise similar male pairs to test the hypothesis that a difference in UV colour alone can affect fight success during male–male competition. Our results fully supported the hypotheses: in almost 90 per cent of the contests the male with reduced UV lost the fight. Our results show that UV can be an important signal, affecting both female mate choice and determining male fight success.
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Ivari jelzések információtartalma és szerepe territoriális gyíkok szaporodási sikerében = Information content of sexual signals in territorial Lizards, and their role in reproductive success
2011Co-Authors: Gábor HerczegAbstract:A kutatas fő celja a fizikai szinek es a kemiai szignalok szexualis szelekcioban betoltott szerepenek vizsgalata volt. Modellfajnak a zold gyikot (Lacerta viridis) valasztottuk, mivel a faj himjei kek torokfoltot viselnek a szaporodasi idő alatt, es a himek femoralis szekretumaban nagy mennyisegű E vitamin talalhato. Eddigi eredmenyeink alapjan a torokszinezet ultraibolya (UV) komponense fontos ivari jelzes: mind a holgyvalaszban, mind a himek kuzdelmeben fontos, pozitiv szerepe van. Emellett az UV intenzitas negativan fuggott ossze az egyedek kondiciojaval (a territorialitast nem befolyasolta), tehat a jelzes feltehetőleg koltseges, es ezert őszinte. Az UV jelzes kornyezet-fuggeset kiserletesen bizonyitottuk, ha csokkentettuk az optimalis testhőmerseklet fenntarthatosaganak napi intervallumat, a himek kevesbe intenziv UV szint fejlesztettek. Kimutattunk emellett a nőstenyek preferenciajat a nagyobb E vitamin koncentracioju him szekretumok fele. Osszessegeben bizonyitottuk a fizikai szinek es kemiai jelzesek kiemelkedő szerepet a szexualis szelekcioban, egy, a szexualis szelekcios kutatasokban meltatlanul alulreprezentalt allatcsoportot vizsgalva. Az eddig meg ki nem ertekelt adatokbol tovabbi eredmenyek varhatoak a szinezeti es kemiai jelzesek kapcsolatarol, osszefuggeseikről a parazitaltsaggal, illetve az anyai befektetesekről (az utodokba) az apa preferaltsaganak fuggvenyeben. | The main goal of the project was to investigate the role of structural colours and chemical signals in sexual selection. Our model was the European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis), where males develop blue nuptial throat patches during the reproductive season and invest large amounts of vitamin E into their femoral secretions. Our results have proven so far that the ultraviolet (UV) component of the nuptial throat patch is indeed a sexual signal, having a positive role in both female mate choice and male-male fights. The UV chroma of the throat patch showed a negative correlation with body condition of male Lizards (and no relationship with territoriality), suggesting that the signal is costly, and thus honest. We proved the environment-dependence of the annual development of the UV signal experimentally: decreasing the daily time range when optimal body temperature was maintainable affected the UV development negatively. In addition, we showed that females prefer male secretions with high vitamin E concentration. Taken together, we showed how important role structural colours and chemical signals play in sexual selection, using a reptile – a taxon largely underrepresented in sexual selection studies – as a model. Based on our yet unanalysed data, further results are expected about the relationship between visual and chemical signals, the effects of parasites on those signals, and about maternal investments depending on the fathers' preferredness.
Orsolya Molnár - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) personalities: Linking behavioural types to ecologically relevant traits at different ontogenetic stages
Behavioural processes, 2014Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gergely Horváth, László Zsolt Garamszegi, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Consistent individual differences within (animal personality) and across (behavioural syndrome) behaviours became well recognized during the past decade. Nevertheless, our knowledge about the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms behind the phenomena is still incomplete. Here, we explored if risk-taking and exploration were consistent and linked to different ecologically relevant traits in wild-caught adult male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis) and in their 2–3 weeks old laboratory-reared offspring. Both adults and juveniles displayed animal personality, consistency being higher in juveniles. We found correlation between risk-taking and exploration (suggestive of a behavioural syndrome) only in adults. Juveniles were more explorative than adults. Large or ectoparasite-free adult males were more explorative than small or parasitized males. Juvenile females tended to be more risk-taking than males. Behaviour of fathers and their offspring did not correlate. We conclude that European Green Lizards show high behavioural consistency and age is an important determinant of its strength and links to traits likely affecting fitness.
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Negative correlation between nuptial throat colour and blood parasite load in male European Green Lizards supports the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis
Naturwissenschaften, 2013Co-Authors: Orsolya Molnár, Katalin Bajer, Boglárka Mészáros, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:During female mate choice, conspicuous male sexual signals are used to infer male quality and choose the best sire for the offspring. The theory of parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis) presumes that parasite infection can influence the elaboration of sexual signals: resistant individuals can invest more energy into signal expression and thus advertise their individual quality through signal intensity. By preferring these males, females can provide resistance genes for their offspring. Previous research showed that nuptial throat colour of male European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis , plays a role in both inter- and intrasexual selections as a condition-dependent multiple signalling system. The aim of this study was to test the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis on male European Green Lizards. By blood sampling 30 adult males during the reproductive season, we found members of the Haemogregarinidae family in all but one individual (prevalence = 96 %). The infection intensity showed strong negative correlation with the throat and belly colour brightness in line with the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis. In addition, we found other correlations between infection intensity and other fitness-related traits, suggesting that parasite load has a remarkable effect on individual fitness. This study shows that throat patch colour of the European Green Lizards not only is a multiple signalling system but also possibly acts as an honest sexual signal of health state in accordance with the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis.
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Ultraviolet nuptial colour determines fight success in male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis).
Biology letters, 2011Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Animal communication through colour signals is a central theme in sexual selection. Structural colours can be just as costly and honest signals as pigment-based colours. Ultraviolet (UV) is a structural colour that can be important both in intrasexual competition and mate choice. However, it is still unknown if a UV signal alone can determine the outcome of male–male fights. European Green Lizard ( Lacerta viridis ) males develop a nuptial throat coloration with a strong UV component. Among males differing only in their manipulated UV colour, females prefer males with higher UV. Here, we experimentally decreased the UV coloration of randomly chosen males from otherwise similar male pairs to test the hypothesis that a difference in UV colour alone can affect fight success during male–male competition. Our results fully supported the hypotheses: in almost 90 per cent of the contests the male with reduced UV lost the fight. Our results show that UV can be an important signal, affecting both female mate choice and determining male fight success.
Katalin Bajer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) personalities: Linking behavioural types to ecologically relevant traits at different ontogenetic stages
Behavioural processes, 2014Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gergely Horváth, László Zsolt Garamszegi, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Consistent individual differences within (animal personality) and across (behavioural syndrome) behaviours became well recognized during the past decade. Nevertheless, our knowledge about the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms behind the phenomena is still incomplete. Here, we explored if risk-taking and exploration were consistent and linked to different ecologically relevant traits in wild-caught adult male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis) and in their 2–3 weeks old laboratory-reared offspring. Both adults and juveniles displayed animal personality, consistency being higher in juveniles. We found correlation between risk-taking and exploration (suggestive of a behavioural syndrome) only in adults. Juveniles were more explorative than adults. Large or ectoparasite-free adult males were more explorative than small or parasitized males. Juvenile females tended to be more risk-taking than males. Behaviour of fathers and their offspring did not correlate. We conclude that European Green Lizards show high behavioural consistency and age is an important determinant of its strength and links to traits likely affecting fitness.
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Negative correlation between nuptial throat colour and blood parasite load in male European Green Lizards supports the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis
Naturwissenschaften, 2013Co-Authors: Orsolya Molnár, Katalin Bajer, Boglárka Mészáros, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:During female mate choice, conspicuous male sexual signals are used to infer male quality and choose the best sire for the offspring. The theory of parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis) presumes that parasite infection can influence the elaboration of sexual signals: resistant individuals can invest more energy into signal expression and thus advertise their individual quality through signal intensity. By preferring these males, females can provide resistance genes for their offspring. Previous research showed that nuptial throat colour of male European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis , plays a role in both inter- and intrasexual selections as a condition-dependent multiple signalling system. The aim of this study was to test the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis on male European Green Lizards. By blood sampling 30 adult males during the reproductive season, we found members of the Haemogregarinidae family in all but one individual (prevalence = 96 %). The infection intensity showed strong negative correlation with the throat and belly colour brightness in line with the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis. In addition, we found other correlations between infection intensity and other fitness-related traits, suggesting that parasite load has a remarkable effect on individual fitness. This study shows that throat patch colour of the European Green Lizards not only is a multiple signalling system but also possibly acts as an honest sexual signal of health state in accordance with the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis.
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Ultraviolet nuptial colour determines fight success in male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis).
Biology letters, 2011Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Animal communication through colour signals is a central theme in sexual selection. Structural colours can be just as costly and honest signals as pigment-based colours. Ultraviolet (UV) is a structural colour that can be important both in intrasexual competition and mate choice. However, it is still unknown if a UV signal alone can determine the outcome of male–male fights. European Green Lizard ( Lacerta viridis ) males develop a nuptial throat coloration with a strong UV component. Among males differing only in their manipulated UV colour, females prefer males with higher UV. Here, we experimentally decreased the UV coloration of randomly chosen males from otherwise similar male pairs to test the hypothesis that a difference in UV colour alone can affect fight success during male–male competition. Our results fully supported the hypotheses: in almost 90 per cent of the contests the male with reduced UV lost the fight. Our results show that UV can be an important signal, affecting both female mate choice and determining male fight success.
Chmelař Jan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Ecology,ethology and variability of European Green Lizard Lacerta viridis in Natural reservation Tiché údolí
2014Co-Authors: Chmelař JanAbstract:The European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis, is in the Bohemia region stated as critically endangered species. Populations in this region are located beyond the northern border of continuous range of this species and are closely related to the "riverine phenomenon", and deeply engorged river valleys. The chosen locality in Tiché údolí is a subject to a long-term conservational management aimed to strengthen and maintain abundance of the local population. This management is a direct output of a previous study of this population performed in years 1995-1997. Main goal of the presented study is to compare current population characteristics with the older study. The locality has been visited 119 times in years from 2011 to 2014. The studied population now displays higher abundance and inhabits a larger area. The author also performed a spatial analysis of the places with presence of an observed individual in order to determine and evaluate significance of the chosen abiotic factors for habitat discrimination. The results indicate that positive discrimination is based on the presence of a rock debris and a hiding place. Strongest factors towards negative discrimination were high percentages of grass and high vegetation coverage. This study also contains and discusses ecological, ethological and..
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Ecology,ethology and variability of European Green Lizard Lacerta viridis in Natural reservation Tiché údolí
Univerzita Karlova Přírodovědecká fakulta, 2014Co-Authors: Chmelař JanAbstract:Ještěrka zelená, Lacerta viridis, je v čechách kriticky ohroženým druhem. Vyskytuje se zde za severní hranicí souvislého rozšíření druhu, a je vázána na říční fenomén hluboce zaříznutých říčních údolí. Na vybrané lokalitě v Tichém údolí probíhá dlouhodobý ochranný management s cílem zvýšit a poté udržet celkovou abundanci místní populace. Tento management je přímým výstupem výzkumu z let 1995-1997. Předmětem předkládané práce, která má zhodnotit efektivitu managementových opatření je zejména získání aktuálních populačních charakteristik za účelem srovnání s hodnotami z tohoto období a zhodnocení účinnosti managementových opatření. Lokalita byla hodnocena v průběhu let 2011 - 2014. Pozorování byla prováděna v celkem 119 dnech. Oproti údajům z let 1995 - 1997 byl pozorován nápadný vzestup abundance a rozšíření využívané plochy. Dále byla provedena prostorová diskriminační analýza míst výskytu jedinců, která mapuje význam jednotlivých faktorů prostředí v bezprostředním okolí místa výskytu. Nejvýznamnějšími pro faktory pozitivní diskriminaci jsou podle analýzy přítomnost suti a dostupnost úkrytu. Negativně byly diskriminovány plochy s vysokým podílem vysoké vegetace a travin. Dále práce obsahuje a diskutuje údaje o ekologii, etologii a morfologické variabilitě vybrané populace. Klíčová slova: ještěrka...The European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis, is in the Bohemia region stated as critically endangered species. Populations in this region are located beyond the northern border of continuous range of this species and are closely related to the "riverine phenomenon", and deeply engorged river valleys. The chosen locality in Tiché údolí is a subject to a long-term conservational management aimed to strengthen and maintain abundance of the local population. This management is a direct output of a previous study of this population performed in years 1995-1997. Main goal of the presented study is to compare current population characteristics with the older study. The locality has been visited 119 times in years from 2011 to 2014. The studied population now displays higher abundance and inhabits a larger area. The author also performed a spatial analysis of the places with presence of an observed individual in order to determine and evaluate significance of the chosen abiotic factors for habitat discrimination. The results indicate that positive discrimination is based on the presence of a rock debris and a hiding place. Strongest factors towards negative discrimination were high percentages of grass and high vegetation coverage. This study also contains and discusses ecological, ethological and...Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologiePřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc
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Ecology,ethology and variability of European Green Lizard Lacerta viridis in Natural reservation Tiché údolí
Univerzita Karlova Přírodovědecká fakulta, 2013Co-Authors: Chmelař JanAbstract:The European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis is a critically endangered reptile species which is in the region of Bohemia present only in relict isolated populations. These populations are closely linked to slopes with a southern exposition in deeply engorged river valleys. These valleys exhibit a unique climatic effect also known as the river phenomenon which allows numerous animal and plant species to survive far beyond their standard northern range. The chosen locality in Tiché údolí is a subject to long-term conservational management and the studied Lizard population seems to reflect its effectiveness. This study is aimed to evaluate variability, ecological and ethological characteristics of Lizards within the locality and is focused on changes on the population level. Key words: European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis, Tiché údolí, river phenomenon, variability, ecology, ethology, population characteristics Abstrakt Ještěrka zelená, Lacerta viridis, je kriticky ohrožený druh plaza, který se na území Čech vyskytuje pouze v reliktních a izolovaných populacích. Ty jsou úzce spjaty se svahy v hluboko zaříznutých říčních údolích. Tato údolí vykazují unikátní klimatický efekt, známý též jako říční fenomén, který umožňuje výskyt četných živočišných i rostlinných druhů i za severní hranicí jejich běžného...The European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis is a critically endangered reptile species which is in the region of Bohemia present only in relict isolated populations. These populations are closely linked to slopes with a southern exposition in deeply engorged river valleys. These valleys exhibit a unique climatic effect also known as the river phenomenon which allows numerous animal and plant species to survive far beyond their standard northern range. The chosen locality in Tiché údolí is a subject to long-term conservational management and the studied Lizard population seems to reflect its effectiveness. This study is aimed to evaluate variability, ecological and ethological characteristics of Lizards within the locality and is focused on changes on the population level. Key words: European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis, Tiché údolí, river phenomenon, variability, ecology, ethology, population characteristics Abstrakt Ještěrka zelená, Lacerta viridis, je kriticky ohrožený druh plaza, který se na území Čech vyskytuje pouze v reliktních a izolovaných populacích. Ty jsou úzce spjaty se svahy v hluboko zaříznutých říčních údolích. Tato údolí vykazují unikátní klimatický efekt, známý též jako říční fenomén, který umožňuje výskyt četných živočišných i rostlinných druhů i za severní hranicí jejich běžného...Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult
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Ecology,ethology and variability of European Green Lizard Lacerta viridis in Natural reservation Tiché údolí
2013Co-Authors: Chmelař JanAbstract:The European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis is a critically endangered reptile species which is in the region of Bohemia present only in relict isolated populations. These populations are closely linked to slopes with a southern exposition in deeply engorged river valleys. These valleys exhibit a unique climatic effect also known as the river phenomenon which allows numerous animal and plant species to survive far beyond their standard northern range. The chosen locality in Tiché údolí is a subject to long-term conservational management and the studied Lizard population seems to reflect its effectiveness. This study is aimed to evaluate variability, ecological and ethological characteristics of Lizards within the locality and is focused on changes on the population level. Key words: European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis, Tiché údolí, river phenomenon, variability, ecology, ethology, population characteristics Abstrakt Ještěrka zelená, Lacerta viridis, je kriticky ohrožený druh plaza, který se na území Čech vyskytuje pouze v reliktních a izolovaných populacích. Ty jsou úzce spjaty se svahy v hluboko zaříznutých říčních údolích. Tato údolí vykazují unikátní klimatický efekt, známý též jako říční fenomén, který umožňuje výskyt četných živočišných i rostlinných druhů i za severní hranicí jejich běžného..
János Török - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) personalities: Linking behavioural types to ecologically relevant traits at different ontogenetic stages
Behavioural processes, 2014Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gergely Horváth, László Zsolt Garamszegi, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Consistent individual differences within (animal personality) and across (behavioural syndrome) behaviours became well recognized during the past decade. Nevertheless, our knowledge about the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms behind the phenomena is still incomplete. Here, we explored if risk-taking and exploration were consistent and linked to different ecologically relevant traits in wild-caught adult male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis) and in their 2–3 weeks old laboratory-reared offspring. Both adults and juveniles displayed animal personality, consistency being higher in juveniles. We found correlation between risk-taking and exploration (suggestive of a behavioural syndrome) only in adults. Juveniles were more explorative than adults. Large or ectoparasite-free adult males were more explorative than small or parasitized males. Juvenile females tended to be more risk-taking than males. Behaviour of fathers and their offspring did not correlate. We conclude that European Green Lizards show high behavioural consistency and age is an important determinant of its strength and links to traits likely affecting fitness.
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Negative correlation between nuptial throat colour and blood parasite load in male European Green Lizards supports the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis
Naturwissenschaften, 2013Co-Authors: Orsolya Molnár, Katalin Bajer, Boglárka Mészáros, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:During female mate choice, conspicuous male sexual signals are used to infer male quality and choose the best sire for the offspring. The theory of parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis) presumes that parasite infection can influence the elaboration of sexual signals: resistant individuals can invest more energy into signal expression and thus advertise their individual quality through signal intensity. By preferring these males, females can provide resistance genes for their offspring. Previous research showed that nuptial throat colour of male European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis , plays a role in both inter- and intrasexual selections as a condition-dependent multiple signalling system. The aim of this study was to test the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis on male European Green Lizards. By blood sampling 30 adult males during the reproductive season, we found members of the Haemogregarinidae family in all but one individual (prevalence = 96 %). The infection intensity showed strong negative correlation with the throat and belly colour brightness in line with the predictions of the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis. In addition, we found other correlations between infection intensity and other fitness-related traits, suggesting that parasite load has a remarkable effect on individual fitness. This study shows that throat patch colour of the European Green Lizards not only is a multiple signalling system but also possibly acts as an honest sexual signal of health state in accordance with the Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis.
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Ultraviolet nuptial colour determines fight success in male European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis).
Biology letters, 2011Co-Authors: Katalin Bajer, Orsolya Molnár, János Török, Gábor HerczegAbstract:Animal communication through colour signals is a central theme in sexual selection. Structural colours can be just as costly and honest signals as pigment-based colours. Ultraviolet (UV) is a structural colour that can be important both in intrasexual competition and mate choice. However, it is still unknown if a UV signal alone can determine the outcome of male–male fights. European Green Lizard ( Lacerta viridis ) males develop a nuptial throat coloration with a strong UV component. Among males differing only in their manipulated UV colour, females prefer males with higher UV. Here, we experimentally decreased the UV coloration of randomly chosen males from otherwise similar male pairs to test the hypothesis that a difference in UV colour alone can affect fight success during male–male competition. Our results fully supported the hypotheses: in almost 90 per cent of the contests the male with reduced UV lost the fight. Our results show that UV can be an important signal, affecting both female mate choice and determining male fight success.
