Chemical communication in the lacertid lizard Podarcis muralis: the functional significance of testosterone

Baeckens, Simon;Huyghe, Katleen;Palme, Rupert;Van Damme, Raoul
(2016) Acta Zoologica : international journal for zoology — Vol. 98, n° 1, p. 94-103 (2016)

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Authors
  • Baeckens, SimonUCLouvain
    Author
  • Huyghe, KatleenLaboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
    Author
  • Palme, RupertUnit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 2610 Vienna, Austria
    Author
  • Van Damme, RaoulLaboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Abstract
Chemical signals are essential for intersexual communication in many animals, including lizards. While faeces have been suggested to contain socially relevant chemical stimuli, epidermal gland secretions are generally believed to be the leading source of chemosignals involved in lizard communication. Early research has shown that sex hormones affect epidermal gland activity, with androgens stimulating gland/pore size and/or gland productivity. However, the functional significance of hormone-induced glandular activity in lizard chemical communication remains unclear. In this study, we manipulated testosterone (T) concentrations in male Podarcis muralis lizards. While T-supplementation did not change pore size, it did increase secretion production substantially. Chemosensory tests showed that female conspecifics tongue-flick at a higher rate and more quickly towards the secretion of males with experimentally increased T levels than towards the secretion of control males, suggesting that females can discriminate between males with dissimilar T levels based on chemical cues of secretion alone. Based on the scent of faeces, however, females were unable to discriminate between males with differential T levels. Also, females reacted more quickly when offered larger amounts of secretion – irrespective of whether secretions were obtained from control or T-increased males. This result indicates that secretion quantity affects chemosignal detectability in Podarcis muralis.
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Baeckens, S., Huyghe, K., Palme, R., & Van Damme, R. (2016). Chemical communication in the lacertid lizard Podarcis muralis: the functional significance of testosterone. Acta Zoologica : international journal for zoology, 98(1), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.1111/azo.12160 (Original work published 2016)