Repeatability and heritability of reproductive traits in free-ranging snakes.

摘要: The underlying genetic basis of life-history traits in free-ranging animals is critical to the effects selection on such traits, but logistical constraints mean that data are rarely available. Our long-term ecological studies oviparous snakes (keelbacks, Tropidonophis mairii (Gray, 1841), Colubridae) an Australian floodplain provide first for any tropical reptile. All size-corrected reproductive (egg mass, clutch size, mass and post-partum maternal mass) were moderately repeatable between pairs clutches produced by 69 female after intervals 49-1152 days, perhaps because body condition was similar clutches. Parent-offspring regression 59 mothers daughters revealed high heritability egg (h2= 0.73, SE=0.24), whereas other three low (< 0.37). estimated may be inflated as differential allocation yolk steroids different-sized eggs. High size maintained (rather than eroded stabilizing selection) acts a trait (hatchling size) determined interaction incubation substrate rather alone. Variation mainly environmental factors (h2=0.04), indicating one component trade-off under much tighter control other. Thus, phenotypic number keelback occurs each snake must allocate finite amount energy into eggs genetically size.