New Publication on Lizard Body size differences!

Rotger, A., Igual, J.M., Genovart, M., [...], Tavecchia, G. 2021.  Contrasting Adult Body-Size in Sister Populations of the Balearic Lizard, Podarcis lilfordi (Günther 1874) Suggests Anthropogenic Selective Pressures. Herpethological Monograph  35: 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-19-00005 

Summary: Recently isolated populations offer a good biological model to infer the evolutionary forces responsible for the current divergences across populations. We coupled genetic, morphometric, ecological, and demographic analyses from three island populations of the endemic Balearic Wall Lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, (Balearic archipelago, Spain) to infer the mechanisms underlying the observed differences in body size. For each population, we described plant community structure, derived a biotic capacity index, and used individual-based data on 1369 lizards captured and released during 6 yr (2009–2015) to estimate population density and body growth patterns.

We used genetic data collected on 80 individuals (∼27 for each population) to infer genetic divergences across islets and population history. Body size divergences cannot be explained by the ecological or population characteristics. Individual growth was slower in the smallest island, where lizards reached the largest average body size. In addition to having the highest density, results suggested that resource availability does not constrain asymptotic body size, but the speed at which individuals reach it does. The Approximate Bayesian Computation used to infer population history from genetic data supported the occurrence of two bottlenecks in the islet with the highest anthropogenic footprint. We emphasize the need to integrate ecological and genetic data and the importance of considering the effects of past human disturbance as an additional force in being able to model present island fauna.

Fieldwork at the Cabrera National Park

GEDA has monitored lizard density in a small area of the Cabrera National Park. The campaign is part of the extension of the monitoring program in the southern islands of Mallorca, financed by the Government of Balearic Islands (code: PRD2018/25). 

A big 'thank' to the Park who helped with the logistic.

Balearic Wall Lizards at "Darrer Dijous"

Dr A. Rotger spoke of the Balearic Wall Lizard at the "Darrer Dijous" conferences. 
A great initiative organized  by the Balearic Ornithological Group (GOB) to popularize scientific research.

Award by the Spanish Society of Evolutionary Biology !

The work on the evolutionary demography of the Belearic Wall lizard by A. Rotger presented at the VI Congress of the Spanish Society of Evolutionary Biology was awarded with the 2nd prize for the best scientific poster. 


Well done Andreu!