skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (USA)
  2. Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5869545
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Ecology; (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 71:5; Journal ID: ISSN 0012-9658
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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-)

Citation Formats

Grant, B W, and Dunham, A E. Elevational covariation in environmental constraints and life histories of the desert lizard Sceloporus merriami. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.2307/1937584.
Grant, B W, & Dunham, A E. Elevational covariation in environmental constraints and life histories of the desert lizard Sceloporus merriami. United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/1937584
Grant, B W, and Dunham, A E. 1990. "Elevational covariation in environmental constraints and life histories of the desert lizard Sceloporus merriami". United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/1937584.
@article{osti_5869545,
title = {Elevational covariation in environmental constraints and life histories of the desert lizard Sceloporus merriami},
author = {Grant, B W and Dunham, A E},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.2307/1937584},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5869545}, journal = {Ecology; (USA)},
issn = {0012-9658},
number = ,
volume = 71:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}