10.5061/DRYAD.BP67V
Merkling, Thomas
Australian National University
Hamilton, David G.
Australian National University
Cser, Borbala
Australian National University
Svedin, Nina
Australian National University
Pryke, Sarah R.
Australian National University
Data from: Proximate mechanisms of colour variation in the frillneck
lizard: geographical differences in pigment contents of an ornament
Dryad
dataset
2015
geographic gradient
colour production
Carotenoids
honest signalling
proximate mechanism
frillneck lizard
Chlamydosaurus kingii
pteridines
2015-08-04T23:32:50Z
2015-08-04T23:32:50Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12672
36682152 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Animal coloration has evolved in contexts such as communication,
camouflage, and thermoregulation. Most studies of animal coloration focus
on its adaptive benefits, whereas its underlying mechanisms have received
less attention despite their potential influence on adaptive benefits. In
fish and reptiles, for example, colour variation from yellow to red can be
produced by carotenoid and/or pteridine pigments, which differ
dramatically in the way they are obtained (carotenoids through diet and
pteridines synthesized de novo). Hence, potential adaptive benefits could
differ greatly depending on the relative contribution to coloration of
different pigments. In the present study, we investigate the mechanisms
underlying colour variation in the frill of the Australian frillneck
lizard (Sauropsida: Chlamydosaurus kingii). Frill colour varies between
populations across the species' range (red, orange, yellow or white).
We argue that this geographical variation results from different
concentrations of carotenoids and pteridines in the frill. Frill
carotenoid concentrations were lower in eastern populations (yellow and
white forms), and pteridines were present only in the red and orange
forms, thereby explaining their redder hues. The observed geographical
variation in frill carotenoids suggests variation in carotenoid
availability across the species' range, which is backed up by the
finding that plasma carotenoid concentrations were higher in the red
(western) compared to the yellow (eastern) form. Although no correlations
were found between individual colour measurements, frill pigments and
plasma carotenoids, our results suggest that selective pressures vary
across the species' range and we speculate that predation pressures
and/or intrasexual signalling context differ between forms.
spec NTZip archive containing all the spectral files for individuals of
the orange form of the frillneck lizard. To be analysed with the script
'script BJLS colour contrasts.R'.spec QLDZip archive containing
spectral files for individuals of the yellow and white forms of the
frillneck lizard. To be analysed with the script 'script BJLS colour
contrasts.R'.spec WAZip archive containing spectral files for
individuals of the red form of the frillneck lizard. To be analysed with
the script 'script BJLS colour contrasts.R'.Colour contrasts
WA-QLD from 4 pop dataColour contrasts values for individuals of the red
and yellow form, as calculated in the 'script BJLS colour
contrasts.R'. These data are used in the script 'script BJLS
correlations carot plasma skin colour.R'.Frilly carot plasma skin
colour dataFile containing plasma pigment concentrations, skin pigment
concentrations and colour contrasts. Analysed using the script
'script BJLS correlations carot plasma skin
colour'.irradianceIrradiance data for visual
modelling.spectral_sensitivitiesLizard spectral sensitivities used for the
visual modelling.script BJLS colour contrastsR script to calculate the
colour contrasts for the four colour forms of the Frillneck lizard.script
BJLS correlations carot plasma skin colourR script used to look at the
correlations between plasma carotenoid concentrations, skin pigment
concentrations and colour contrasts.
Wet Tropics of Queensland
Australia