The sex chromosome system can influence the evolution of sex-biased dispersal.

Sex-biased dispersal is a much-discussed feature in literature on dispersal. Diverse hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of sex-biased dispersal, a difference in dispersal rate or dispersal distance between males and females. An early hypothesis has indicated that it may rely on the difference in sex chromosomes between males and females.

Female choice for heterozygous mates changes along successive matings in a lizard.

Female mate choice and female multiple mating are major focuses of studies on sexual selection. In a multiple mating context, the benefits of mate choice can change along successive matings, and female choice would be expected to change accordingly. We investigated sequential female mate choice in the moderately polyandrous common lizard (Zootoca vivipara, synonym Lacerta vivipara).

Relationship between female mating strategy, litter success and offspring dispersal.

The relationship between mating systems and dispersal has generally been studied at the population and species levels. It has hardly ever been investigated at the individual level, by studying the variations of mating and dispersal strategies between individuals. We investigated this relationship in a natural population of the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara).

Condition dependence of reproductive strategy and the benefits of polyandry in a viviparous lizard.

Species in which males do not contribute to reproduction beyond the provision of sperm offer good opportunities to study the potential genetic benefits that females can obtain from polyandry. Here, we report the results of a study examining the relationships between polyandry and components of female fitness in the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara). We found that polyandrous females produce larger clutches than monandrous females.

Prior classical olfactory conditioning improves odour-cued flight orientation of honey bees in a wind tunnel.

Odours are key cues used by the honey bee in various situations. They play an important role in sexual attraction, social behaviour and location of profitable food sources. Here, we were interested in the role of odours in orientation at short distance, for instance the approach flight to a floral patch or in close proximity to the hive entrance.