Supplementary Discussion
The average survival rate of juveniles in our enclosures is well within the natural range observed
in this species. Published data on survival rates in natural and enclosed populations of Lacerta vivipara
appeared in Massot et al. (1992), Massot et al. (1994), Sorci et al. (1996), Sorci & Clobert (1999),
Boudjemadi et al. (1999), Lecomte et al. (2004).
The dominant form of selection in the common lizard may be social selection arising from
interactions between related (Le Galliard et al. 2003) or unrelated (Lecomte et al. 2004) individuals.
Earlier results on the effect of social selection on dispersal in our enclosed populations are consistent
with theoretical predictions and observations made in the wild (Ronce et al. 1998, Le Galliard et al.
2003). Dispersal is a trait influencing competitive abilities of juveniles that could be most sensitive to
the spatial effect of enclosures. Furthermore, the age structure and the magnitude of density
dependence in our enclosures is also consistent with the observations made in the wild (Massot et al.
1992, Lecomte et al. 2004). Therefore, our previous findings suggest that the structure of social
interactions and main effects of social selection are preserved in the semi-natural conditions of our field
experiment.
Massot et al. (1992) Ecology 73:1742.
Massot et al. (1994) Journal of Animal Ecology 63:431.
Sorci et al. (1996) Journal of Animal Ecology 65:781.
Sorci & Clobert (1999) Evolutionary Ecology Research 1:303.
Boudjemadi et al. (1999) Journal of Animal Ecology 68:1207.
Lecomte et al. (2004) Journal of Animal Ecology 73:179.
Le Galliard et al. (2003) Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 270:1163
Ronce, Massot & Clobert (1998) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 95:600
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