eCite Digital Repository
Costs of reproduction in a lizard species: a comparison of observational and experimental data
Citation
Olsson, M and Shine, R and Wapstra, E, Costs of reproduction in a lizard species: a comparison of observational and experimental data, Oikos, 93, (1) pp. 121-125. ISSN 0030-1299 (2001) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.930113.x
Abstract
Life history theory predicts that increasing investments into reproduction compromises survival and future reproduction. However, demonstrating such costs is confounded by positive correlations between life history traits. For example, individuals in good condition may be good at both surviving and reproducing. We studied such processes in a viviparous snow skink lizard (Niveoscincus microlepidotus) from high elevation sites in Tasmania, Australia. Our results show a stark difference in costs of reproduction between unmanipulated females from the natural population versus experimentally manipulated females (using follicle stimulating hormones). In the unmanipulated females, females with relatively larger reproductive investments survived better than females with smaller reproductive investments. In the experimental group, however, females forced to 'over-invest' into a larger clutch survived less well than controls. Thus, our study confirms the potential dangers of non-experimental estimation of costs of reproduction.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Population ecology |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences |
UTAS Author: | Wapstra, E (Professor Erik Wapstra) |
ID Code: | 22760 |
Year Published: | 2001 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 21 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2001-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-08-03 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page