Geographic variation in female body size and clutch size of the lizard Sceloporus variabilis (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) in Mexico

Abstract

The body size and reproductive characteristics in populations of the same species is influenced by environmental and ecological factors. In this study, we analysed the relationship of environmental factors, morphological characters (body size and mass) and reproductive traits (clutch size) of females from 13 populations of Sceloporus variabilis. Results showed variation in snout‒vent length (SVL), body mass and clutch size among populations. An ANCOVA between SVL and clutch size showed an increase of the latter in females from Alvarado and Valle Nacional; ANCOVA between body mass and SVL revealed an increase in body mass in most populations. A canonical correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between SVL, body mass, and clutch size with elevation and precipitation, but not with temperature. Future studies should assess the effect of seasonality and food resource availability on reproductive investment among populations of S. variabilis to determine whether these characteristics are a function of differences in key ecological factors (e.g. availability of resources and seasonality) associated with each population, and determine the causes of geographic variation in morphological and life history characteristics among populations.