Schwarzkopf, Lin (1992) Annual variation of litter size and offspring size in a viviparous skink. Herpetologica, 48 (4). pp. 390-395.

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Abstract

This study examines variation in reproductive characteristics over 2 yr in the viviparous Australian skink Eulamprus tympanum. Litter size (xBAR = 2.8) was positively related to female body size in both years of this study, and there was no variation in the form of this relationship between years. However, offspring size, and the relationship of offspring size to female body size varied from 1989 to 1990. In most other species of lizard that have been examined, offspring size either does not change from year to year or changes concurrently with changes in clutch (litter) size. Here I suggest that because litter size is small, and additional offspring apparently cannot be produced without substantial growth by the female (almost-equal-to-11% of body length), the response to exogenous variables affecting reproductive investment may be mostly in terms of offspring size.

Item ID:	36412
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1938-5099
Keywords:	skinks, eulamprus-tympanum, reproductive characteristics, clutch size, offspring size, annual variation
Funders:	University of Sydney, Australian Museum, Linnean Society of New South Wales (LS-NSW), Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Queensland Federation of University Women Fellowship (QFUWF)
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2016 04:38
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060303 Biological Adaptation @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960806 Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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