Climatic niche evolution in the viviparous Sceloporus torquatus group (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae).

ABSTRACT: The cold-climate hypothesis maintains that viviparity arose as a means to prevent increased egg mortality in nests owing to low temperatures, and this hypothesis represents the primary and most strongly supported explanation for the evolution of viviparity in reptiles. In this regard, certain authors have stated that viviparous species will exhibit speciation via climatic niche conservatism, with similar climatic niches being observed in allopatric sister species. However, this prediction remains to be tested with bioclimatic variables relevant to each viviparous group. In the present study, we examined climatic niche evolution in a group of North American viviparous lizards to determine whether their diversification is linked to phylogenetic niche conservatism (PNC). We evaluated the phyl

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Mendez N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6330044 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature