Seasonal and interpopulational phenotypic variation in morphology and sexual signals of Podarcis liolepis lizards.

ABSTRACT: Widespread species often show extensive phenotypic variation due to the contrasting abiotic and biotic factors that shape selective pressures in different environments. In this context, the gradual and predictable patterns of variation in climatic and environmental conditions found in mountain areas offer a great opportunity to explore intraspecific phenotypic variation. For instance, temperature is negatively correlated with altitude and virtually all aspects of the behavior and physiology of ectotherms are sensitive to body temperature. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that morphology, dorsal and ventral coloration and the chemical profile of femoral secretions show interpopulational and seasonal variation in the lacertid lizard (Podarcis liolepis). We compared lizards from three p

SUBMITTER: Ortega J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6419997 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature