Life in the trees: the ecology and life history of Kentropyx striatus (Teiidae) in the lavrado area of Roraima, Brazil, with comments on the life histories of tropical teiid lizards

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 1995-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J. Vitt ◽  
Celso Morato de Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Reproductive Characteristics ◽  
History Of

The ecology and life history of the tropical teiid lizard Kentropyx striatus were studied in a grassland of northern Brazil, the lavrado area. The area, located nearly at the equator, experiences a prolonged dry season with a wet season extending from May to September. Total annual rainfall averages 1750 mm. Lizards were nonrandomly distributed among habitat patches and microhabitats. Most individuals were in trees and shrubs surrounding temporary and permanent water. Most individuals were observed active during late morning, the time period during which feeding and social interactions were observed. Lizards bask to achieve active body temperatures averaging 35.7 ± 0.23 °C. Body temperature is correlated with both substrate and air temperatures; foraging lizards maintained higher temperatures than basking lizards regardless of whether they were in sun, and lizards sampled when there was cloud cover had lower body temperatures than those sampled when sun was available. Females reach sexual maturity at 74 mm snout–vent length (SVL), produce 3–9 eggs per clutch, reproduce more than once per season, and commence reproduction during the wet season. Lizards hatch from eggs at 31 mm SVL. Maturity appears to be reached in 1 year or less. Overall, female reproductive characteristics are similar to those of other tropical teiid lizards that have been studied, with body size explaining much of the variance in reproductive characteristics across species. There is pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males larger in body size as well as certain other characteristics independent of body size. Sexual dimorphism appears to be a consequence of sexual selection. The diet is varied, but is dominated volumetrically by frogs, eruciform larvae, and spiders. Lizard body size accounted for only 5.5% of the variance in prey size and there was no difference in prey size due to sex. The occurrence of frogs and lizards in K. striatus stomachs suggests that teiid lizards may influence the structure of lizard and frog assemblages. The similarity of K. striatus to other studied tropical teiids in reproductive characteristics, morphology, activity period, activity temperatures, and diet underscore the conservative nature of the ecology of teiid lizards, presumably a consequence of their mode of prey acquisition.

scholarly journals Life history of Tendaguru sauropods as inferred from long bone histology

Fossil Record ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Sander
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Bone Histology ◽  
Long Bone ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Growth Series ◽  
History Of

Abstract. Sauropod dinosaurs present exceptional challenges in understanding their biology because of their exceptional body size. One of these, life history, can be inferred from the histology of their bones. For this purpose, the diverse sauropod assemblage of the Upper Jurassic Tendaguru beds was sampled with a new coring method which provided unprecented access to and insights into sauropod bone histology. Growth series of humeri and femora as well as long growth records from single bones suggest that all four sauropod taxa are characterized by continued growth after sexual maturity but that growth was determinate. Fibrolamellär bone is dominant in the samples, indicating that the bones of the Tendaguru sauropods grew at rates comparable to those of modern large mammals. The growth pattern of these sauropods thus combines typically reptilian traits with typically mammalian traits. In the details of their bone histology, the Tendaguru sauropod taxa show considerable variation which reflects life history. In addition, Barosaurus exhibits probable sexual dimorphism in bone histology. Das Verständnis der Biologie der sauropoden Dinosaurier wird durch ihre enorme Körpergröße außerordentlich erschwert. Allerdings kann ein Aspekt, die Lebensgeschichte, anhand der Histologie ihrer Knochen untersucht werden. Zu diesem Zweck wurde die diverse Sauropoden-Vergesellschaftung der oberjurassischen Tendaguru-Schichten beprobt, und zwar mit einer neuartigen Kernbohrmethode, die einen herausragenden Zugang und Einblick in die Knochenhistologie der Sauropoden ermöglichte. Wachstumsserien von Humeri und Femora sowie umfassende Überlieferungen des Wachstums von Individuen anhand einzelner Knochen machen es wahrscheinlich, daß alle vier Sauropoden-Taxa der Tendaguru-Schichten durch ein auch nach der Geschlechtsreife anhaltendes Wachstum gekennzeichnet waren. Allerdings ging das Wachstum nicht bis zum Tode des Tieres weiter, sondern kam bei einer etwas variablen Maximalgröße zum Stillstand. Fibrolamellärer Knochen ist der vorherrschende Knochentyp in den Proben, was anzeigt, daß die Tendaguru-Sauropoden mit für Säugetieren typische Raten wuchsen. Die Tendaguru-Sauropoden kombinerten also ein für Reptilien typisches Muster des Wachstums, nämlich nach der Geschlechtsreife anhaltendes Wachstum, mit für Säuger typischen Raten des Wachstums. Die verschiedenen Sauropoden-Taxa zeigen erstaunliche Unterschiede in den Details ihrer Knochenhistologie, die Unterschiede in der Lebensgeschichte belegen. Bei Barosaurus scheint außerdem ein Geschlechtsdimorphismus in der Histologie der Langknochen vorzukommen. doi:1002/mmng.1999.4860020107

Life on the edge: the ecology and life history of the tropidurine iguanid lizard Uranoscodon superciliosum

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1366-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Howland ◽  
Laurie J. Vitt ◽  
Pamela T. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Tropical Wet Forest ◽  
History Of ◽  
Forest Streams ◽  
Small Forest

An Amazonian population of the iguanid lizard Uranoscodon superciliosum was studied in lowland tropical wet forest in central Pará, Brazil. These nonheliothermic lizards are restricted to densely vegetated habitats near (often over) water, particularly riverbanks and small forest streams, where they utilize small-diameter perches and feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, apparently at the water's edge. They mature at moderate to large size at an age of about 1.5 years. Production of moderate-sized clutches of eggs is seasonal, and reproduction and fat storage both cycle in association with rainfall and flooding. Although they occur in fairly high densities, social interaction is uncommon and sexual dimorphism is not pronounced. The ecology and life history of this lizard seem to be strongly influenced by the unusual habitat specialization.

Sexual dimorphism in body size and life‐history traits in a population ofTriturus alpestris alpestris

2004 ◽  
Vol 71 (sup2) ◽  
pp. 117-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Marzona ◽  
Daniele Seglie ◽  
Cristina Giacoma
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Life History Traits

The life history of a tropical dragonfly: Cora marina (Odonata: Polythoridae) in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Pritchard
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Flight Period ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Oxygen Conditions ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
Oviposition Sites

ABSTRACTThe life history of Cora marina was followed for one year in two permanent streams at 600 m elevation in Guanacaste National Park; Costa Rica. The water temperature was c. 21°C year-round, but there was a distinct wet-dry seasonality, very little rain falling from January to May. In both streams, C. marina was univoltine. Adults first appeared at the beginning of May and the flight period coincided with the wet season. The availability of water-soaked logs as oviposition sites probably restricts reproduction to the wet season. Eggs hatched from mid-July to December. Recruitment to subsequent larval instars was slow during the wet season but increased at the start of the dry season. Final-instar larvae were collected from March to October. Oviposition in logs above the stream and the ability to live in the low oxygen conditions of the hyporheic zone probably allow eggs and small larvae to survive wet season spates.El ciclo biológico de una libelula tropical: Cora marina (Odonata: Polythoridae) en Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

A multi-year and multi-site population study on the life history of Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821) (Amphibia, Urodela)

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Utzeri ◽  
Claudio Angelini ◽  
Damiano Antonelli
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Population Study ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Natural Pond ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Site Population

Abstract We studied nine populations of Salamandrina perspicillata for two to nine years and described the life history variation among these population. Despite experiencing similar climatic conditions, populations differed in mean body size: populations using still water bodies for oviposition were larger body-sized than those using brooks. One semi-natural pond was used by particularly small individuals and was probably recently colonised. The mean body size of ovipositing females varied from year to year. Measurements of individuals in successive years showed that the tail grew more than the trunk and this differential growth increased with age. Females did not oviposit every year and, within a given population, the number of ovipositing females varied widely from year to year.

Behavioural ecology ofTropidurus hispiduson isolated rock outcrops in Amazonia

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J. Vitt ◽  
Peter A. Zani ◽  
Janalee P. Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Observational Studies ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Rock Outcrops ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Northern Brazil

ABSTRACTA population of the tropical lizardTropidurus hispidus, isolated on a granitic rock outcrop in tropical forest of northern Brazil, was studied during the 1993 wet season. Four types of observational studies revealed that lizards are active throughout most of the day. During 10-minute intervals, individual lizards moved five times for an average of 240 cm and tongue-flicked once. Habitat temperatures vary considerably during the day, with rock and air temperatures in sun exceeding body temperatures of lizards during much of the activity period. During most of the day, lizards thermoregulate by moving among shady, filtered sun, and sunny microhabitats maintaining body temperatures near 35°C. Temperatures of lizards active during cloudy periods were significantly lower than temperatures of lizards during sunny periods, indicating that clouds decrease the ability of lizards to effectively thermoregulate. Most feeding occurs in the afternoon at edges of rock outcrops with ants, insect larvae, termites and beetles dominating the diet. Comparisons with a near-by savanna population revealed differences in body size (males only), activity period (longer on rocks), body temperatures (higher on rocks), number of prey categories consumed (lower on rocks), mean size of prey (larger on rocks), number of prey eaten (fewer on rocks) and microhabitat use (more restricted on rocks).

Population dynamics and life history of Paratya australiensis Kemp, 1917 (Decapoda: Atyidae) in upland rainforest streams, south-eastern Queensland, Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marty A. Hancock ◽  
Stuart E. Bunn
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Life History ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Lower Altitude ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
History Of ◽  
Paratya Australiensis

Aspects of the life history and population dynamics of Paratya australiensis were examined in headwater streams of the Conondale Range, south-eastern Queensland, particularly in relation to spatial and temporal variation in temperature and flow dynamics. Breeding period and population structure at nine sites in three subcatchments were examined during three years of monthly sampling using a non-destructive, photographic method. Breeding was restricted to the warmer months of late spring and summer. Peak abundances of ovigerous females and release of larvae occurred earlier at warmer, lower-altitude sites than at cooler, upper-altitude sites. This is consistent with the general trend for seasonal breeding in temperate and subtropical species of atyids, and perennial breeding in tropical species, and suggests that the summer breeding period of P. australiensis was strongly influenced by temperature. In subtropical, south-eastern Queensland, larvae were released just before and during the wet season. Although populations were quite resilient, disturbance from high-flow events also shaped the life history. Hydrology modified the breeding period by influencing overall abundance and recruitment success and by favouring the early release of larvae before peak flows. The reasonably well defined seasonal cycle and synchronized development appear to result from the combined effects of temperature and hydrology.

Life history of Sternaspis costata (Sternaspidae: Polychaeta) in Ariake Bay, Japan

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Yoshino ◽  
Manato Nagayoshi ◽  
Masanori Sato ◽  
Toshiya Katano ◽  
Yuji Ito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Ovigerous Female ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
The Other ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Ariake Bay ◽  
History Of

The life history of the Japanese sternaspid polychaeteSternaspis costatavon Marenzeller, 1879 was investigated in the inner part of Ariake Bay from May 2010 to May 2011, with additional sampling in July and September 2011. All the worms were measured by the width of the ventral shield (WS) as an indicator of body size, and their coelomic contents were also examined. Ovigerous females occurred throughout the year, except during October and March, with the highest ovigerous rate (number of ovigerous females/number of adults with a WS larger than that of the smallest ovigerous female, i.e. 1.8 mm) noted in September (43.8% in 2010, 34.7% in 2011). The ovigerous rate was less than 10% in the other months, except in April 2011 (30%). Although the coelomic oocytes ranged from 90 to 160 μm in diameter, the diameters of most of the oocytes were 140–160 μm in September. The number of adults drastically decreased from September to October, suggesting that most of the adults died after spawning in the major reproductive period, although a small fraction of adults seemed to reproduce earlier or later. A cohort of recruits with an approximately 1.2 mm WS was identified in March and April. Most of the recruits grew to adult size in July–September, when many ovigerous females occurred. These results indicated that this species is fundamentally semelparous, with longevity around 1 year, and they mostly reproduce in September, with a few adults reproducing almost throughout the year.

Sexual dimorphism and life history of Keichousaurus hui (Reptilia: Sauropterygia)

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Nien Cheng ◽  
Robert Holmes ◽  
Xiao-Chun Wu ◽  
Noel Alfonso
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
History Of
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