Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China
Background Egg size and clutch size are key life history traits. During the breeding period, it is possible for females to increase their reproductive output either by increasing the number of eggs if the optimal egg size (OES) is maintained, or by increasing the allocation of energy to each egg. Ho...
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/5705.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797419162634551296 |
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| author | Tao Liang Lu Zhou Wenfeng He Lirong Xiao Lei Shi |
| author_facet | Tao Liang Lu Zhou Wenfeng He Lirong Xiao Lei Shi |
| author_sort | Tao Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Egg size and clutch size are key life history traits. During the breeding period, it is possible for females to increase their reproductive output either by increasing the number of eggs if the optimal egg size (OES) is maintained, or by increasing the allocation of energy to each egg. However, the strategies adopted are often influenced by animals’ morphology and environment. Methods Here, we examined variation in female morphological and reproductive traits, tested for trade-offs between egg size and clutch size, and evaluated the relationship between egg size and female morphology in three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus. Results Female body size, egg size, and clutch size were larger in the Yi Ning (YN) and Fu Yun (FY) populations than in the Bei Tun (BT) population (the FY and YN populations laid more, and rounder eggs). Egg size was independent of female body size in two populations (BT and FY), even though both populations had an egg-size/clutch size trade-off. In the YN population, egg size and clutch size were independent, but egg size was correlated with female body size, consistent with the hypothesis of morphological constraint. Conclusions Our study found geographical variation in body size and reproductive strategies of P. helioscopus. Egg size was correlated with morphology in the larger-bodied females of the YN population, but not in the smaller-bodied females of the BT population, illustrating that constraints on female body size and egg size are not consistent between populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:43:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-541cf2d3a8bb45b6bd56e15f7b3abbc0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:43:16Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-541cf2d3a8bb45b6bd56e15f7b3abbc02023-12-03T10:41:32ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-10-016e570510.7717/peerj.5705Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in ChinaTao Liang0Lu Zhou1Wenfeng He2Lirong Xiao3Lei Shi4College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaBackground Egg size and clutch size are key life history traits. During the breeding period, it is possible for females to increase their reproductive output either by increasing the number of eggs if the optimal egg size (OES) is maintained, or by increasing the allocation of energy to each egg. However, the strategies adopted are often influenced by animals’ morphology and environment. Methods Here, we examined variation in female morphological and reproductive traits, tested for trade-offs between egg size and clutch size, and evaluated the relationship between egg size and female morphology in three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus. Results Female body size, egg size, and clutch size were larger in the Yi Ning (YN) and Fu Yun (FY) populations than in the Bei Tun (BT) population (the FY and YN populations laid more, and rounder eggs). Egg size was independent of female body size in two populations (BT and FY), even though both populations had an egg-size/clutch size trade-off. In the YN population, egg size and clutch size were independent, but egg size was correlated with female body size, consistent with the hypothesis of morphological constraint. Conclusions Our study found geographical variation in body size and reproductive strategies of P. helioscopus. Egg size was correlated with morphology in the larger-bodied females of the YN population, but not in the smaller-bodied females of the BT population, illustrating that constraints on female body size and egg size are not consistent between populations.https://peerj.com/articles/5705.pdfPhrynocephalus helioscopusOptimal egg sizeMorphological constraint hypothesisEgg size-number trade-offLife historyReproduction |
| spellingShingle | Tao Liang Lu Zhou Wenfeng He Lirong Xiao Lei Shi Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China PeerJ Phrynocephalus helioscopus Optimal egg size Morphological constraint hypothesis Egg size-number trade-off Life history Reproduction |
| title | Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China |
| title_full | Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China |
| title_fullStr | Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China |
| title_short | Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China |
| title_sort | variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of phrynocephalus helioscopus in china |
| topic | Phrynocephalus helioscopus Optimal egg size Morphological constraint hypothesis Egg size-number trade-off Life history Reproduction |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/5705.pdf |
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