Elevational covariation in environmental constraints and life histories of the desert lizard Sceloporus merriami

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Ecology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1937584· OSTI ID:5869545

Grant, B W ^[1]; Dunham, A E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (USA)
2. Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (USA)

We examine environmental constraints on life history characters among three elevationally distinct populations of the desert lizard Sceloporus merriami in west Texas. We show how environmental gradients in temperature and food abundance interact to constrain body temperatures, daily activity times, growth rates, and age-specific body size. We suggest that these differences resulted in opposite responses from males and females with respect to their size and age at first reproduction. Results suggest an interaction between resource levels and biophysical constraints that may greatly influence differences among populations in important life history characteristics. Although these responses are hypothesized to be proximally induced by environmental constraints, the resulting life history differences in age-specific resource allocation to growth, storage, and reproduction may significantly affect fitness.

• OSTI ID: 5869545
• Journal Information: Ecology; (USA), Vol. 71:5; ISSN 0012-9658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LIZARDS
ECOLOGY
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMAL GROWTH
DESERTS
ENVIRONMENT
FOOD
LEVELS
REPRODUCTION
SEX DEPENDENCE
SIZE
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEXAS
ANIMALS
ARID LANDS
FEDERAL REGION VI
GROWTH
NORTH AMERICA
REPTILES
USA
VERTEBRATES
540210* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)