| Title: | Effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on asymmetries and head size in two sympatric lizard species |
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| Authors: | ID Alagić, Ajša (Author)
ID Krofel, Miha (Author)
ID Lazić, Marko (Author)
ID Žagar, Anamarija (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Similar work, visit https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10058
URL - Source URL, visit https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.sqv9s4n0v
 ZIP - Presentation file, download (1005,44 KB)
MD5: 7025B3946CB2263965AC654152618BD5
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 2.20 - Complete scientific database of research data |
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| Organization: |  NIB - National Institute of Biology
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| Abstract: | Organisms face numerous environmental stressors, which can affect developmental precision. Developmental instability can be used as an efficient and reliable bioindicator of environmental stressors and individual health. However, little information is available about effects of interspecific interactions on occurrence of developmental instability. We analyzed fluctuating asymmetry in two sympatric lizard species (Iberolacerta horvathi and Podarcis muralis), which exhibit a competitive interaction, to determine potential effects of altitude, interspecific competition and urbanization on a set of physical characteristics. We sampled 16 syntopic and allotopic populations and used methods of geometric morphometrics to analyze head morphology. We detected significant effect of altitude, but the trend was not linear: lizards had most asymmetrical heads at mid altitudes, which could be related to lower availability of favorable lizard habitats (open areas) at this altitude and therefore higher competition. We observed that lizards from allotopic populations attained larger head sizes compared to lizards in syntopy that experienced interspecific competition. This could suggest that in sites where competing species is absent, individuals can invest more energy in the development of the body. Moreover, head shape of Iberolacerta horvathi was more asymmetric compared to Podarcis muralis, which could indicate difference between species in the vulnerability to stress effects. We did not detect any statistically significant effect of urbanization, which could relate to relatively low degree of pollution and habitat degradation in our study area. Our results highlight the possibility of using lizards and developmental instability for bioindication of environmental stressors. |
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| Keywords: | lizards, morphology, ecology, asymmetries, data |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Place of publishing: | Durham |
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| Place of performance: | Durham |
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| Publisher: | Dryad |
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| Year of publishing: | 2020 |
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| Year of performance: | 2020 |
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| Number of pages: | 1 spletni vir |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-23943  |
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| UDC: | 591 |
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| DOI: | 10.5061/dryad.sqv9s4n0v |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 245664515 |
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| Note: | Nasl. z. nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 14. 8. 2025;
Soavtorji: Krofel, Miha; Lazić, Marko; Žagar, Anamarija;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 27.10.2025 |
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| Views: | 151 |
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| Downloads: | 98 |
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