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The Contributions Of Evolutionary Divergence And Phenotypic Plasticity To Geographic Variation In The Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus Occidentalis, Christine R. Buckley, Duncan J. Irschick, Stephen C. Adolph

Biology Department Faculty Publication Series

Local genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity are two mechanisms that can have marked effects on the morphology, performance, and behaviour of animals, producing geographic variation among populations. However, few studies have examined how these mechanisms interact during ontogeny to shape organismal phenotypes. We incubated eggs of the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, from four populations (representing two latitudes and altitudes) in either a warm or cool environment in the laboratory. We then raised the hatchlings under common laboratory conditions, measured morphological and performance traits until 5 weeks of age, and compared juvenile morphology with that of field-caught adults from …

Effects Of Temperature And Sex On Jump Performance And Biomechanics In The Lizard Anolis Carolinensis, Sp Lailvaux, Dj Irschick

Biology Department Faculty Publication Series

1. Temperature is known to affect whole-organism performance capacities significantly in ectotherms, but may potentially alter performance kinematics as well. Locomotor performance is a multivariate phenomenon, hence changes in temperature are probably reflected in multiple aspects of locomotion.
2. We studied the thermal sensitivity of several kinetic and kinematic jump variables, including acceleration and power output, in male and female green anole lizards, Anolis carolinensis Voigt 1832. We hypothesized that temperature would have similar effects on kinetic and kinematic variables.
3. We also tested the hypotheses that males and females would differ in jump performance, but only because of sexual dimorphism for body …