Emilio J. Mancero
Papers
1
Total Citations
1
H-Index
1
About
Emilio J. Mancero is a behavioral ecologist whose research focuses on the evolutionary drivers of sexual selection and sexual size dimorphism in reptiles, particularly lava lizards. His most cited work, a 2022 study on San Cristóbal lava lizards (*Microlophus bivittatus*), pioneered the use of robotic lizard models to experimentally test intrasexual selection. By deploying lifelike robot decoys, Mancero demonstrated that larger male body size confers a significant advantage in male-male competition, providing direct evidence that this mechanism maintains the pronounced male-biased size dimorphism observed in polygynous lizard species. This innovative approach bridges field observations with controlled experimentation, offering a powerful tool for studying animal behavior. With 1 citation to date, his work has already influenced discussions on sexual selection theory in island ecosystems. Mancero’s contributions are notable for their methodological creativity and for clarifying the selective pressures shaping morphology in *Microlophus*, a genus endemic to the Galápagos. His research continues to inform our understanding of how competition and mate choice drive evolutionary change in reptiles.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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