Lizard ecology along altitudinal gradients in Mediterranean mountains

Abstract

Elevational gradients imply a huge variation in several biotic and abiotic factors that change with altitude. Because of that, organisms may change their phenotype along the altitudinal gradient being adapted to the local conditions. Consequently, elevational gradients constitute a good model to examine geographic variation offering a natural experiment for carrying out research in evolutionary ecology. In this thesis, I carry out different approaches to study two lizard species along two elevational gradients in the Mediterranean region. On the one hand, I study the Atlas day gecko Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus in the High Atlas of Morocco. On the other hand, I study the large Psammodromus Psammodromus algirus in Sierra Nevada of Spain. Our findings emphasize the relevance of understanding species’ life histories and habitat characteristics for fully disentangling the causes and consequences of lifespan trajectory in ectotherms.