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Reduced Water Availability to Mothers and Embryos Has Little Effect on Offspring Phenotypes in an Invasive Lizard.
Sydney M Wayne1, M Christopher Norris1, Amélie Fargevieille1,2
1Auburn University Museum of Natural History, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
Reproductive females of the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) show robust reproduction despite water scarcity. However, embryonic development and hatchling survival are sensitive to incubation moisture levels.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Physiological ecology
- Herpetology
Background:
- Water availability critically impacts organismal physiology and fitness across life stages.
- Reproductive investment and early development can be particularly sensitive to maternal and environmental water levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of maternal water availability on reproductive investment and embryonic development in the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei).
- To determine how incubation moisture influences embryonic responses to water availability.
Main Methods:
- Female brown anole lizards were subjected to a ~70% reduction in water availability.
- Reproductive output (fecundity, egg size, egg hydration) was assessed.
- Embryonic responses to varying incubation substrate moisture were monitored.
- Hatching success and hatchling traits (body size, hydration) were measured.
Main Results:
- Maternal water restriction did not affect fecundity, egg size, or egg hydration.
- Embryonic response to incubation moisture was not influenced by maternal water availability.
- Incubation substrate moisture positively impacted egg water uptake, hatching success, and hatchling body size.
Conclusions:
- Reproduction in adult female Anolis sagrei is resilient to reduced water availability.
- Early life stages (embryonic development and hatching) are sensitive to environmental moisture.
- The impact of water availability on fitness components differs significantly across life stages.
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