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Proximate drivers of elevational variation in body size in a Mediterranean lizard.

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Title: Proximate drivers of elevational variation in body size in a Mediterranean lizard.
Authors: Moreno-Rueda, Gregorio1 (AUTHOR) gmr@ugr.es, Reguera, Senda2 (AUTHOR), Zamora-Camacho, Francisco J.3 (AUTHOR), Comas, Mar1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Evolutionary Ecology. Jun2026, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Body size, *Prey availability, *Human growth, *Phenotypes, *Spatial variation, *Animal ecology, *Lizards
Abstract: Body size often varies with elevation, yet the proximate mechanisms underlying such patterns remain poorly understood. In the Mediterranean lizard Psammodromus algirus, body size increases stepwise with elevation, remaining stable between 300 and 1,200 m but increasing linearly from 1,700 to 2,500 m a.s.l. To identify the proximate mechanisms driving this pattern, we evaluated five non-mutually exclusive hypotheses: variation in (1) hatchling size, (2) juvenile growth rate, (3) time to sexual maturity, (4) post-maturational growth rate, and (5) longevity. We combined data from hatchlings, juveniles, and adults collected along the elevational gradient to test each mechanism. Elevational variation in lizard body size was not explained by variation in hatchling size, age at maturity, post-maturational growth, or longevity. Instead, juvenile growth rate increased significantly with elevation and was positively correlated with adult body size. This pattern was associated with greater prey abundance at high elevations, suggesting that faster juvenile growth in food-rich environments allows lizards to reach larger sizes despite shorter activity seasons. Our findings highlight that geographic variation in body size may reflect environmental constraints, underscoring the importance of identifying proximate mechanisms to understand phenotypic patterns in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 193366671
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Proximate drivers of elevational variation in body size in a Mediterranean lizard.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moreno-Rueda%2C+Gregorio%22">Moreno-Rueda, Gregorio</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> gmr@ugr.es</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reguera%2C+Senda%22">Reguera, Senda</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zamora-Camacho%2C+Francisco+J%2E%22">Zamora-Camacho, Francisco J.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Comas%2C+Mar%22">Comas, Mar</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Evolutionary+Ecology%22">Evolutionary Ecology</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p1-15. 15p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Body+size%22">Body size</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prey+availability%22">Prey availability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+growth%22">Human growth</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenotypes%22">Phenotypes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+variation%22">Spatial variation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animal+ecology%22">Animal ecology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lizards%22">Lizards</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Body size often varies with elevation, yet the proximate mechanisms underlying such patterns remain poorly understood. In the Mediterranean lizard Psammodromus algirus, body size increases stepwise with elevation, remaining stable between 300 and 1,200 m but increasing linearly from 1,700 to 2,500 m a.s.l. To identify the proximate mechanisms driving this pattern, we evaluated five non-mutually exclusive hypotheses: variation in (1) hatchling size, (2) juvenile growth rate, (3) time to sexual maturity, (4) post-maturational growth rate, and (5) longevity. We combined data from hatchlings, juveniles, and adults collected along the elevational gradient to test each mechanism. Elevational variation in lizard body size was not explained by variation in hatchling size, age at maturity, post-maturational growth, or longevity. Instead, juvenile growth rate increased significantly with elevation and was positively correlated with adult body size. This pattern was associated with greater prey abundance at high elevations, suggesting that faster juvenile growth in food-rich environments allows lizards to reach larger sizes despite shorter activity seasons. Our findings highlight that geographic variation in body size may reflect environmental constraints, underscoring the importance of identifying proximate mechanisms to understand phenotypic patterns in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10682-026-10394-3
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Body size
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prey availability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human growth
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenotypes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spatial variation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Animal ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lizards
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Proximate drivers of elevational variation in body size in a Mediterranean lizard.
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          Name:
            NameFull: Moreno-Rueda, Gregorio
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            NameFull: Reguera, Senda
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zamora-Camacho, Francisco J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Comas, Mar
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
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              Value: 02697653
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              Value: 40
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Evolutionary Ecology
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