Life-history variation in a community of lacertid lizards from the Lake Skadar region (Montenegro)

Abstract

We compared life-history attributes of Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta oxycephala, Podarcis melisellensis and Podarcis muralis populations in the Lake Skadar region (mainland and islands). These lacertids are moderately sized with differing morphology (flattened vs. cylindrical). They have similar duration of egg incubation, size at onset of sexual maturity, size of hatchlings, and rate of juvenile growth. Clutch size is variable between populations and species: P. muralis produced larger clutches than the other species, especially A. nigropunctatus and L. oxycephala. A significant difference in egg size was apparent at the population level only. Smaller clutch size and elongated eggs were associated with a flattened body in L. oxycephala. A canonical discriminant analysis of reproductive variables showed that species similarities in ecological characteristics reflect phylogenetic relationships.