Publication
Title
Investment in chemical signalling glands facilitates the evolution of sociality in lizards
Author
Abstract
The evolution of sociality and traits that correlate with, or predict, sociality, have been the focus of considerable recent study. In order to reduce the social conflict that ultimately comes with group living, and foster social tolerance, individuals need reliable information about group members and potential rivals. Chemical signals are one such source of information and are widely used in many animal taxa, including lizards. Here, we take a phylogenetic comparative approach to test the hypothesis that social grouping correlates with investment in chemical signalling. We used the presence of epidermal glands as a proxy of chemical investment and considered social grouping as the occurrence of social groups containing both adults and juveniles. Based on a dataset of 911 lizard species, our models strongly supported correlated evolution between social grouping and chemical signalling glands. The rate of transition towards social grouping from a background of ‘epidermal glands present’ was an order of a magnitude higher than from a background of ‘no epidermal glands’. Our results highlight the potential importance of chemical signalling during the evolution of sociality and the need for more focused studies on the role of chemical communication in facilitating information transfer about individual and group identity, and ameliorating social conflict.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Proceedings : biological sciences / Royal Society [London] - London, 1990, currens
Related dataset(s)
Publication
London : Royal Society , 2021
ISSN
0962-8452 [print]
1471-2954 [online]
DOI
10.1098/RSPB.2020.2438
Volume/pages
288 :1945 (2021) , p. 1-8
Article Reference
20202438
ISI
000625110700008
Pubmed ID
33593182
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Evolution and function of fine surface structures of lizard skin.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 18.02.2021
Last edited 17.11.2024
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