Timing of parturition as a maternal care tactic in an alpine lizard species

Mats Olsson*, Richard Shine

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lack of ability to buffer postparturient offspring mortality risks may put a female under strong selection to time the birth of her young with benign environmental conditions. We provide support for timing of parturition as an adaptation in Tasmanian snow skinks (Niveoscincus) by demonstration of (1) ongoing selection against poorly timed parturitions, (2) retention of full-term young through episodes of unfavorable conditions, and (3) phylogenetic shifts from autumn to spring parturition in taxa where costs of autumn parturition are expected to be relatively higher.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1861-1864
Number of pages4
JournalEvolution
Volume52
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adaptation
  • Alpine lizard
  • Niveoscincus
  • Offspring survival
  • Parturition

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