Behavioral Interactions for Food among Two Clones of Parthenogenetic Lepidodactylus lugubris and Sexually Reproducing Hemidactylus frenatus Geckos

Abstract

Lepidodactylus lugubris is an all-female parthenogenetic gecko. This gecko consists of diploid and triploid clones in the tropical and subtropical regions, and Clones A (diploid) and C (triploid) cohabit most islands in Ogasawara, Japan. On some Ogasawara islands, another cosmopolitan, but sexually reproductive, gecko Hemidactylus frenatus coexists with L. lugubris. This situation offers a unique opportunity to examine interactions not only between asexual female clones of L. lugubris but also between L. lugubris and both sexes of H. frenatus. We induced behavioral contests for food in small laboratory enclosures between two individuals of different clone, sex, and species combinations. Clone C interacted with other individuals less frequently and had a lower success in feeding the prey than Clone A and both sexes of H. frenatus. Clone C also showed few aggressive behaviors such as arches, growls, bites, and lunges, and never wrestled with other individuals. This interactive tendency of Clone C helps explain the microdistribution patterns of these sympatric geckos in the field.