Experimental evidence of early costs of reproduction in conspecific viviparous and oviparous lizards.

摘要: Reproduction entails costs, and disentangling the relative importance of each stage reproductive cycle may be important to assess costs benefits different strategies. We studied early reproduction in oviparous viviparous lizard females bimodal species Zootoca vivipara. Egg retention time is approximately one-third females. compared vitellogenesis egg stages that are common both modes. Precisely, we monitored thermoregulatory behaviour, weight gain immunocompetence Moreover, injected an antigen half (immune challenge) study trade-offs between mode immune performance components system. Finally, experimentally induced parturition at laying Oviparous did not show strong differences response challenge. However, spent more thermoregulating while partially hidden gained than The greater indicates initial period less costly for or able save accumulate energy this period. This used by cope with subsequent last two-third gestation. Such ability compensate higher a longer account frequent evolution viviparity squamate reptiles.