The Emergence and Behavioral Stability of Social Status in Green Anole Lizard (Anolis carolinensis) Dyads

摘要

Male green anole lizards engage in behavioral displays and stress-hormone mediated color changes during territorial aggression. We examined 12 male dyads during two weeks of cohab itation to document the aggressive behavior of dominant and subordinate animals and to examine the emergence and behavioral stability of dominant/subordinate social status. Two hour observations cond ucted on alternating days (Days 2 – 14) of cohabitation indicated that dyads established stable dominate/subordinate relatio nships in which dominant animal s performed more aggressive displays, were typically greener, and mo nopolized space and resources relative to their subordinate opponent during two weeks of cohabitation. These behavioral asymmetries emerged rapidly following dyad formation; animals that were dominant during prolonged cohabitation exhibited more aggressive displays (pushups and dewlap extensions) and greener body color than subordinates during the first two hours of cohabitation (Day 1). In contrast, display and eyespot blackening latencies did not differ between animals that eventually emerged as dominant and subordinate. These results provide the most in -depth longitudinal description and analysis of stable asymmetries in the display behavior exhibited by male green anoles during long -term cohabitation to date and suggest that anole aggressive displays are honest signals. They also indicate that display intensity/persistence and body color can be reliably used to distinguish do minant from subordinate animals both at the group and d yad levels of analysis during the first two hours of cohabitation.