Figure 2 is taken from [12]
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Since females establish their territories based on the availability of food and shelter and will mate with males whose territories encompass their own [10] the value of male maintaining their territories is obvious. If males fail to defend their territory they may not be able to mate.
Male anoles make more aggressive displays at the edge of their territory than the center. McMann and Paterson (2003) suggested that this was to deter nearby, possibly unseen competitors. They also hypothesized that their recognition of territories and areas involved landmark recognition, although no evidence has yet indicated this. [11] If a male has previously lost a fight they are less likely to win following fights and exhibit less aggressive display behaviours (like head bobbing and push ups). Winners on the contrary become more aggressive in their next fight and exhibit more display behaviour. [12] Blood plasma glucose levels taken after a fight are generally higher for the winner than the loser (see figure2). This display behaviour is an “honest on average” behaviour (as described by Hurd 2010[13]) as the the aggressiveness of displays is a good predictor of a succeeding fight. This display behaviour is an “honest on average” behaviour (as described by Hurd 2010[13]) as the the aggressiveness of displays is a good predictor of a succeeding fight. |