Joint Space Use in a Parthenogenetic Armenian Rock Lizard (Darevskia armeniaca) Suggests Weak Competition among Monoclonal Females

According to kin selection theory, competition among monoclonal animals must be lower than between unrelated individuals. Thus, we propose that hoine range and core area overlap in parthenogenetic lizards will be broader than female range overlap in similar gonochoristic species. To test this hypothesis, we examined home range locations and space use of parthenogenetic Armenian Rock Lizards (Darevskia armeniaca) and compared them with home range locations and space use of gonochoristic species. We demonstrated that parthenogenetic Rock Lizards have a total range structure typical of insectivorous lizards, consisting of a sally zone, a home range, and one or more core areas. Some core areas contained activity centers, associated strongly with key basking sites and shelters. Provisional residents were found within the same range for 1 or 2 years, whereas wanderers visited study sites for 1 or 2 weeks per season. Settlement structure varied greatly among years. Home ranges, core areas, and even activity centers and basking sites of parthenogenetic females overlapped extensively, unlike in females of nonparthenogenic species. Monoclonal origins and high level of relatedness within unisexual species are possible explanations of the extended range overlap among parthenogenetic females.