Age and growth of the red-belied lizard, Darevskia parvula

2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ufuk Bülbül ◽  
Muammer Kurnaz ◽  
Ali İhsan Eroğlu ◽  
Halime Koç ◽  
Bilal Kutrup
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Growth Coefficient ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Two Populations

In the present study, we investigated potential effects of some environmental climatic factors on life-history traits of twoDarevskia parvulapopulations located at different elevation sites and evaluated age, body size, SSD and growth rate results in these lizards. The age at maturity and longevity were found to be similar in both populations. Males of the highland population had significantly larger snout-vent length and older age than those of the lowland population. Although the mean ages of females were not significantly different between the two populations, the highland population had significantly larger snout-vent length than the lowland population. Considering all individuals (both males and females), we found that specimens from the population in the higher-elevation site had significantly larger snout-vent length and older age than those of the lower-elevation site. A low level of male-biased sexual size dimorphism was observed in both populations. The growth coefficient was lower in the high-elevation site than the lower elevation site. Growth rates were not significantly different between the populations. Our preliminary results indicate that although our studied populations were located at different elevation sites and had distinct climate, longevity, age at sexual maturity and growth rate results were similar. This may be a reason of the lower male-biased sexual size dimorphism in both populations.

scholarly journals A skeletochronological estimate of age and growth in a large riparian frog from Madagascar (Anura, Mantellidae, Mantidactylus)

Herpetozoa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio M. Guarino ◽  
Angelica Crottini ◽  
Marcello Mezzasalma ◽  
Jasmin E. Randrianirina ◽  
Franco Andreone
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Growth Trajectories ◽  
Growth Coefficient ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Similar Growth

We characterized the body size (as snout-vent length), age, sexual size dimorphism, and growth rate in a population of one of the larger riparian frog from Madagascar (Mantidactylusgrandidieri) from a rainforest patch close to Vevembe, SE Madagascar. We identified a significant female-biased sexual size dimorphism. Age was estimated using phalangeal skeletochronology and was significantly higher in females than in males. Modal age class turned out to be 4 years in both sexes but a large percentage of adult females (75%) fell in the 5–6 years-old classes, while no male exceeded 4 years. We here report M.grandidieri as a medium-long-lived anuran species. Von Bertalanffy’s model showed similar growth trajectories between the sexes although the growth coefficient in females (k = 0.335) was slightly but not significantly higher than in males (k = 0.329).

Sexual size dimorphism in relation to age and growth based on skeletochronological analysis in a Tibetan frog

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Lu ◽  
Xiaoyan Ma
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Sexual Difference ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Asymptotic Size ◽  
Central Tibet

AbstractThe number of lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in diaphyseal cross-sections of phalanges or femora was used to assess individual age and growth of 612 Nanorana parkeri, including 363 males, 143 females, 70 juveniles, and 36 tadpoles, in a population from central Tibet, China. The oldest immature frogs had an age of 6 years; both the youngest sexually mature males and females were 3 years old. However, the majority of individuals bred for the first time at 5 years in males and 6 years in females. Females had greater average age (6.27 years) and lifespan (11 years) than males (5.72 and 10 years). At the population level, females, on average, were significantly larger in body length (40.3 mm) than males (37.0 mm). However, the significant size difference only occurred when both sexes were over 6 years old, at which most frogs attained maturity. Growth curve and growth rate estimated for each sex based on a von Bertalanffy model showed that females had a larger asymptotic size (54.2 mm) but smaller growth coefficient k (0.16) than males (40.0 mm, 0.37), and that females had greater growth rate than males in all age classes, except at metamorphosis. According to these results, we concluded that the sexual difference of growth between pre- and post-maturation periods contributed to the age-specific sexual size dimorphism of N. parkeri.

Sexual size dimorphism in steppe tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi): growth, maturity, and individual variation

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 1433-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Lagarde ◽  
Xavier Bonnet ◽  
Brian T Henen ◽  
Johanna Corbin ◽  
Ken A Nagy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Sexual Difference ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Size At Maturity ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Size At Birth

Age and size at maturity are determined through complex interactions among size at birth, growth rate, maturation, and survival. We studied sexual size dimorphism and growth rate and maturation patterns in a long-lived organism, the steppe tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi), using the scute lamina number and width as age and growth measures. There was no sexual difference in the juvenile growth rate, but females matured later and hence were larger at maturity than males. We also observed considerable inter-individual variation in age and size at maturity. In both sexes, precocious animals grew faster during the juvenile phase but matured at a smaller body size than did tardy animals. Consequently, maturity did not seem size-dependent per se but rather was determined by growth rate. The strong variation between and within the sexes in age and size at maturity suggest that different growth trajectories and maturation schedules depend upon sex and individual responses to resource availability.

scholarly journals Ontogenetic mechanisms underlying sexual size dimorphism in Urodele amphibians: An across-species approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Zhang ◽  
Xin Lu
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Ontogenetic Trajectory ◽  
Delayed Maturation

Abstract Why do two sexes of the same species differ in body size holds a long-standing question of evolutionary biology. While many across-species comparisons have focused on ultimate causes behind sexual size dimorphism (SSD), only have a few been directed toward elucidating its ontogenetic basis. Urodeles are an amphibian group in which the direction and degree of SSD vary greatly among species. Using demographic data yielded by skeletochronology for 33 urodele species, the current study reveals a positive across-species correlation between SSD and the sex difference in mean age of adult animals, and the latter increases with the corresponding difference in age at maturity; annual growth rate does not differ between the sexes. We conclude that extended longevities in one sex, which is mediated by delayed maturation, would allow it to grow for longer and get larger, with growth rate making a weak contribution to body size. The sex-specific divergence in ontogenetic trajectory might be explained by potentially high growth costs of reproduction to females in association with stronger fecundity selection, and to males that are expected to experience stronger sexual selection.

scholarly journals Does the High Elevation Climate along Mt. Everest can be Represented by Lower Elevation Stations?

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-109
Author(s):  
Binod Dawadi ◽  
Shankar Sharma ◽  
Kalpana Hamal ◽  
Nitesh Khadka ◽  
Yam Prasad Dhital ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Southern Slope ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Lower Elevation

Climate change studies of the high mountain areas of the central Himalayan region are mostly represented by the meteorological stations of the lower elevation. Therefore, to validate the climatic linkages, daily observational climate data from five automated weather stations (AWS) at elevations ranging from 2660 m to 5600 m on the southern slope of Mt. Everest were examined. Despite variations in the means and distribution of daily, 5-day, 10-day, and monthly temperature and precipitation between stations located at a higher elevation and their corresponding lower elevation, temperature records in the different elevations are highly correlated. In contrast, the precipitation data shows a comparatively weaker correlation. The slopes of the regression model (0.82–1.13) with (R2>0.74) for higher altitude (5050 m and 5600 m) throughout the year, 0.83–1.12 (R2>0.68) except late monsoon season for the station at 4260 m and 5050 m asl indicated the similar variability of the temperature between those stations. Similarly, Namche (3570 m) temperature changes by 0.81–1.32°C per degree change in corresponding lower elevation Lukla station (2660 m), except for monsoon season. However, inconsistent variation was observed between the station with a large altitudinal difference (2940 m) at Lukla and Kala Patthar (5600 m). In general, climate records from corresponding lower elevation can be used to quantitatively assess climatic information of the high elevation areas on the southern slope of Mt. Everest. However, corrections are necessary when absolute values of climatic factors are considered, especially in snow cover and snow-free areas. This study will be beneficial for understanding the high-altitude climate change and impact studies.

Characterization of the growth rate of adult wolffishes Anarhichas minor and A. lupus: Is avoidance of paternal care at the origin of the expression of a sexual size dimorphism?

Aquaculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 497 ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard-Antonin Dupont Cyr ◽  
Helge Tveiten ◽  
Grant W. Vandenberg ◽  
Pierre U. Blier ◽  
Robert L. Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Paternal Care ◽  
Size Dimorphism
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