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

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 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), Journal Name: Ecology; (USA) Vol. 71:5; ISSN 0012-9658; ISSN ECOLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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