Summary
Within the island of Tenerife the lizardGallotia galloti shows geographic variation in a range of features, most notably the colour pattern of breeding males. Numerous (7) specific causal hypotheses, both phylogenetic and ecogenetic, are proposed or plausible for this geographic variation and these are simultaneously tested against the observed multivariate pattern. The hypotheses based on the divergence in allopatry (e.g. the secondary contact of populations from the precursor islands of Anaga and Teno and the separation of high- and low-altitude populations by encircling cloud) are rejected. The hypothesis that the pattern is caused by topographically determined climatic differences within the island is not rejected. The climate may influence the balance between selection for signalling colouration for sexual/territorial purposes and natural selection for crypsis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Thorpe, R. S., Evolution38 (1984) 233.
Thorpe, R. S., and Baez, M., Evolution41 (1987) 256.
Pasteur, G., and Salvidio, S., Bonn. zool. Beitr.36 (1985) 553.
Bischoff, W., Bonn. zool. Beitr.33 (1982) 362.
Thorpe, R. S., Boll. Zool.54 (1987) 3.
Thorpe, R. S., Biol. Revs51 (1976) 407.
Thorpe, R. S., Syst. Zool.34 (1985) 127.
Thorpe, R. S., Biol. J. Linn. Soc.13 (1980) 7.
Douglas, M. E., and Endler, J. A., J. theor. Biol.99 (1982) 777.
McKechnie, S. W., et al., Genetics81 (1975) 571.
Dillon, R. T., Syst. Zool.33 (1984) 69.
Sokal, R. R., Syst. Zool.28 (1979) 227.
Dietz, E. J., syst. Zool.32 (1983) 21.
Manly, B. F. J., Res. Popul. Ecol.28 (1986) 201.
Borley, G. D., Proc. geol. Assoc.85 (1974) 259.
Thorpe, R. S., Proc. R. Soc. Edin.78 B (1979) 1.
Thorpe, R. S., Z. zool. Syst. Evolut. Forsch.25 (1987) 161.
Szymura, J. M., et al., Experientia41 (1985) 1469.
Huetz de Lemps, A., Le climat des Iles Canaries, vol. 54. Facul. Lett. Sci. Hum. Paris-Sorbonne, France 1969.
Kammer, F., Scr. Geobot.7 (1974) 1.
Endler, J. A., Biol. J. Linn. Soc.22 (1984) 187.
Endler, J. A., Evol. Biol.11 (1978) 319.
Endler, J. A., Evolution34 (1980) 76.
Endler, J. A., Envir. Biol. Fish.9 (1983) 173.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thorpe, R.S., Brown, R.P. Testing hypothesized causes of within-island geographic variation in the colour of lizards. Experientia 45, 397–400 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01957493
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01957493