Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"How many sequences should I track when applying the random encounter model to camera trap data?","authors":"P. Palencia,&nbsp;P. Barroso","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13204","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13204","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The random encounter model (REM) is a camera trapping method to estimate population density (i.e. number of individuals per unit area) without the need for individual recognition. The REM can be applied considering camera trap data only by tracking the passages of animals in front of the camera (i.e. sequences). However, it has not been assessed how the number of sequences tracked (i.e. trajectory of the animal reconstructed) influences the REM estimates. In this context, we aimed to gain further insights into the relationship between the number of sequences tracked and reliability in REM estimates to optimize its applicability. We monitored multiple species using camera traps, and we applied REM to estimate population density. We considered red fox <i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, roe deer <i>Capreolus capreolus</i>, fallow deer <i>Dama dama</i>, red deer <i>Cervus elaphus</i> and wild boar <i>Sus scrofa</i> as model species. We tracked from a minimum of 154 (red fox) to a maximum of 527 (red deer) sequences per species, and we then sampled the dataset to simulate different scenarios in which a lower number of sequences were tracked (20, 40, 80 and 160). We also assessed the effect of adjusting the survey period to the minimum necessary to record the desired number of sequences. Our results suggest that tracking around 100 sequences returns a precision level equivalent to the one obtained by tracking a considerably higher number of sequences and reduced and optimized the human effort necessary to apply REM. Tracking less than 40 sequences could result in low precise density estimates. Our results also highlighted the relevance of considering study periods of ca. 2 months to increase the number of sequences recorded and tracking a random sample of them. Our results contribute to the optimization and harmonization of REM as a reference method to estimate wildlife population density without the need for individual identification. We make clear recommendations on the cost-effective sample size for estimating REM parameters, optimizing the human effort when applying REM, and discouraging REM applications based on low sample sizes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"155-162"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13204","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141945142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Living in a predictable environment: Intraspecific variation in tadpole size and shape of the Sierra's treefrog","authors":"A. Bonino,&nbsp;J. Lescano,&nbsp;J. Goldberg,&nbsp;S. I. Quinzio","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13201","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13201","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Within the breeding sites of anurans, factors at the microhabitat scale can exhibit variations over the years, resulting in temporal fluctuations within these sites. These fluctuations may lead to modifications in “normal larval development” and observable phenotypic changes. These developmental alterations appear to have evolved as shared strategies for achieving reproductive success and ensuring the survival of offspring. In a population of <i>Boana cordobae</i> inhabiting the Central Pampean Sierras (Córdoba, Argentina), the coexistence of pre- and prometamorphic tadpoles throughout the year, coupled with variations in size and shape within the same developmental stage, has led us to question about the duration of the larval period, variations in the timing of developmental events, and the possible existence of distinct larval morphs for this species. Utilizing data collected over four consecutive years from various locations, we described the development, growth, and larval morphology using both linear and geometric morphometrics during the pre- and prometamorphic stages. Our aim was to comprehend how anuran larvae in predictable environments synchronize the timing of their phenotypic transformations with external conditions. We identified two distinct cohorts: <i>spring–summer</i> and <i>autumn–spring</i>, each exhibiting distinct rates of growth and development until metamorphosis, resulting in size discrepancies. Moreover, the physical attributes of the breeding sites influenced the size of the tadpoles. However, the observed variation in shape was not related to the ontogenetic period, cohort, or developmental site. Ultimately, the observed variations had no impact on the morphology at metamorphosis. The comprehensive data gathered from our observations in <i>B. cordobae</i> yield valuable insights that contribute to a deeper comprehension of anuran larval development under natural conditions where changes are predictable and follow a regular pattern throughout the year, ultimately maximizing reproductive success.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"163-176"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141872947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The use of anthropogenic areas helps explain male brown bear movement rates and distance travelled during the mating season","authors":"D. Falcinelli,&nbsp;M. del Mar Delgado,&nbsp;I. Kojola,&nbsp;S. Heikkinen,&nbsp;C. Lamamy,&nbsp;V. Penteriani","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13199","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13199","url":null,"abstract":"<p>During the reproductive period, mating strategies are a significant driver of adaptations in animal behaviour. For instance, for polygamous species, greater movement rates during the mating season may be advantageous due to the increased probability of encountering several potential mates. The brown bear <i>Ursus arctos</i> is a solitary carnivore that lives at low densities, with a polygamous mating system and an extended mating season of nearly 3 months. Here, we hypothesized that male brown bears may show changes in movement patterns and space-use behaviour during their mating season. Using long-term (2002–2013) telemetry data from the Finnish Karelia male population (<i>n</i> = 24 individuals; <i>n</i> = 10 688 GPS locations), we first analysed daily movement metrics, that is, speed, net and total distance with respect to the period (mating vs. post-mating) and several environmental predictors. Then, we conducted a step-selection analysis for each of these periods. Throughout the year, male bears selected forested/shrub habitats and increased movement rates near main roads. During the mating season, reproductive needs seem to trigger roaming behaviour in adult males to maximize encounter rates with potential receptive females. However, all movement metrics increased within areas of high human activity, suggesting a bear response to a higher risk perception while using those areas. During the post-mating period, overlapping with the bear hyperphagia and the hunting season, males selected anthropogenic areas farther from main roads and trails, suggesting a trade-off between foraging opportunities and risk avoidance.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 1","pages":"83-96"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13199","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141779366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intensive agriculture increases fluctuating asymmetry of dorsal head shape in Iberian asp viper populations","authors":"J. Buldain,&nbsp;A. Kaliontzopoulou,&nbsp;Ó. Zuazo,&nbsp;F. Martínez-Freiría","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13203","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13203","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Habitats resulting from agricultural intensification harbour a wide array of stressors for resident organisms. Environmental stress during development can leave imprints on the phenotype that are useful as indicators of its impairment. Among them, fluctuating asymmetry (FA), considered the morphological manifestation of developmental instability (DI), may reflect the increment of developmental noise and the inefficiency of buffering mechanisms. Here, we evaluated for the first time the impact of intensive agriculture on the development of a viviparous reptile, the asp viper, <i>Vipera aspis</i> (Linnaeus 1758), by means of FA. To this end, we first quantified unsigned asymmetry indexes (uAI) of dorsal head shape captured by geometric morphometrics (GM) and of seven pholidotic traits in 127 and 482 individuals, respectively. Using linear models, we then tested for variation in uAI according to habitat type. Furthermore, we tested the effect of climatic variables with a potential influence on development, and thus, on FA. We performed analyses at the <i>V. aspis zinnikeri</i> subspecies range and at the population level, including three well-sampled natural localities (NAT) and three sites of intensive agriculture (AGR). We found significantly higher FA levels in dorsal head shape in individuals from agricultural habitats than in those from natural habitats, which suggests that asp viper development is impaired by stressors resulting from agricultural intensification. Our results also point to a lower sensitivity of traditional morphological tools to capture the signal that intensive agriculture leaves on development and a lack of capacity of climatic factors in isolation to predict variation in the degree of asymmetry. In addition to encouraging the use of high-precision methods, we hypothesize on the overall effect of different stressors linked to intensive agriculture as the real constraint.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"141-154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141737970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feeding behavior varies based upon prey defenses in the ground snake (Squamata: Serpentes: Sonora episcopa)","authors":"N. D. Gripshover,&nbsp;J. M. Meik,&nbsp;D. J. Nicholson,&nbsp;C. L. Cox","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13198","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13198","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Predators with diverse diets can use generalized feeding behavior to consume different prey types or can alter behavior based upon the functional demands of each prey type. Prey choice and feeding behavior are especially important for limbless, gape-limited predators, such as snakes, because the head must capture, subdue, and ingest prey. Although previous studies have described how snakes feed on dangerous prey, these studies have not compared how behaviors might vary with different prey types. We analyzed the feeding behavior of ground snakes (<i>Sonora episcopa</i>) that were fed scorpions, spiders, and centipedes. Ground snakes successfully consumed each prey type using different behaviors for each prey. To capture prey, snakes used the unusual behavior of pinning prey with the ventral surface of the head with a closed mouth strike before biting. Snakes grasped and envenomated scorpions in all trials, and this behavior lasted significantly longer for scorpions than for spiders. During envenomation, snakes used their body to pin the telson of the scorpion to reduce the likelihood of being stung. Rather than using body restraint to subdue spiders, the snakes often dragged spiders across the substrate with the mandible. Scorpions repeatedly pinched and stung snakes during feeding and snakes used body restraint to subdue this prey significantly more often than spiders. Our study revealed that ground snakes alter feeding behavior based upon prey defenses and use novel prey capture and handling behaviors to subdue prey, suggesting there is yet unappreciated diversity of feeding behavior in snakes allowing them to exploit dangerous arthropod prey.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 1","pages":"71-82"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141643641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brocket deer niche breadth and overlap: spatial similarities limit species coexistence","authors":"F. Grotta-Neto,&nbsp;A. Vogliotti,&nbsp;M. L. de Oliveira,&nbsp;F. C. Passos,&nbsp;J. M. Barbanti Duarte","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13180","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13180","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding species coexistence requires information about how species interact and partition their ecological niche. Niches of closely related species tend to be quite similar and thereby, when syntopic, overlap can result in competition when shared resources are limiting. Brocket deer of tropical forests are ecologically similar species due to convergence or relatedness. As a group, what little is known about their ecology suggests spatial and temporal niche separation while dietary differences among species remain largely unknown. The possibility of competition has been suggested, as it is rare for more than two species to co-occur. If competition is important, then it may limit syntopy of more species and its importance should increase with relatedness between species. Based on analyses of faecal samples, camera traps, and stable isotopes and multidimensional analysis of niche space, we test spatial, temporal and dietary niche differences and compare niche breadth in two syntopic species pairs: <i>Mazama rufa</i> with <i>M. nana</i> (both of subtribe Odocoileina) and <i>M. jucunda</i> (Odocoileina) with <i>Subulo gouazoubira</i> (Blastocerina). In 2007–2008 and 2017–2019, 240 faecal samples and 375 records were collected in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Spatial partitioning among both species pairs was found, with <i>S. gouazoubira</i> and <i>M. nana</i> having greater niche breadth, which may permit or facilitate coexistence. Odocoileina tend to be nocturnal, while Blastocerina tend to be diurnal, which suggests that phylogeny may influence species coexistence. Furthermore, the species tended to overlap with respect to diet. These results suggest interference competition avoidance by niche partitioning at the level of habitat and time, allowing coexistence. Thereby, despite the morphological similarities, brocket deer species of evolutionarily convergent subtribes preserve differences in ecological niche dimensions that facilitate the coexistence of their populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 1","pages":"21-33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141512206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Swimming ability of the Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeidae): implications for its spatial distribution","authors":"C. Bordehore,&nbsp;S. Manchado-Pérez,&nbsp;E. S. Fonfría","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13197","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13197","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Although usually considered part of the plankton, cubozoans are strong swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the active swimming ability of the box jellyfish <i>Carybdea marsupialis</i> on the spatial distribution of a well-studied population in the NW Mediterranean where adults and juveniles do not overlap geographically. To accomplish this, we analyzed the swimming speed, effective velocity, effective displacement index (EDI), and proficiency of 27 individuals with diagonal bell widths (DBWs) ranging from 1.1 to 36 mm. The laboratory analysis utilized conventional video recordings and the video analysis tool Tracker. Mean swimming speed for small juveniles, medium juveniles and adults was 9.7 ± 0.8, 21.9 ± 2.3 and 43.1 ± 1.8 mm s⁻¹ (mean ± <span>se</span>), respectively. Effective velocity was also proportional to size, ranging from 5.0 ± 0.7 to 38.8 ± 3.1 mm s⁻¹ (mean ± <span>se</span>). The calculated EDI for each group was 0.51 ± 0.05, 0.84 ± 0.06 and 0.90 ± 0.05 (mean ± <span>se</span>), respectively. Proficiency showed an inverse trend, from 6.4 ± 0.6 s⁻¹ for the small juveniles to 1.36 ± 0.05 for adults (mean ± <span>se</span>). Comparing the swimming speed results with the local currents obtained from drifting buoys analyzed in the area, adults would be able to swim strongly enough to overcome almost 70% of the currents, whereas the small juveniles would not reach 17%. This would allow larger individuals to select their habitat, while smaller individuals are left dependent on advection. Although experiments adding currents in aquaria would be necessary to confirm these theoretical results, the data obtained would be useful in improving the performance of bio-mathematical models used to predict jellyfish blooms since, even though the sting of <i>C. marsupialis</i> is non-fatal, it may produce systemic effects in sensitive swimmers.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13197","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141512207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Within-group sex ratios predict growth of social mole-rats","authors":"H. M. Bensch,&nbsp;J. Thorley,&nbsp;K. T. Finn,&nbsp;M. Zöttl","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13196","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Groups of wild animals can vary considerably in their composition, including in the proportion of group members who are male or female, that is the within-group sex ratio. Variation in within-group sex ratios can arise from active adjustment of litter sex ratios by mothers, from sex differences in mortality, dispersal and immigration, or from stochastic variation in recruitment. Variation in the within-group sex ratio can have consequences for within-group competition and can affect individual life histories throughout development. In this paper, we explore which processes may generate variation in within-group sex ratios in wild Damaraland mole-rats (<i>Fukomys damarensis</i>), a singular cooperative breeder. We investigate whether within-group sex ratios predict the growth, body condition and philopatry of individuals. We show that although the population-level sex ratio is balanced, skewed within-group sex ratios are common, particularly among small groups. Our data suggests that stochastic variation in the sex of recruits explains natural variation in the sex ratio of wild groups. Non-breeding individuals in groups with a sex ratio biased towards their own sex grow more slowly than individuals in groups biased towards the opposite sex, suggesting that intra-sexual competition may decrease growth rates. We suggest that the costs of competition may contribute to the large variation in growth observed in social mole-rat groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 1","pages":"63-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13196","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142324421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A methodological workflow for quantitative colouration and colour pattern comparison reveals taxonomic and habitat-level differences in the polymorphic fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra)","authors":"L. Alarcón-Ríos,&nbsp;D. Álvarez,&nbsp;G. Velo-Antón","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13194","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13194","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The study of colour, including physical properties and patterns, is an essential step in comprehensively understanding the role, evolution and diversification of this trait involved in functions like survival, performance, reproductive success and communication. While quantitative studies on colour have primarily focused on colour attributes, such as hue or brightness, the quantitative assessment of how colours are distributed across an organism's body (i.e. pattern) has received less attention despite its high functionality irrespective and together with colour. This gap is particularly noticeable in amphibians, especially in highly polymorphic, continuously variable species. In this study, we use the urodele <i>Salamandra salamandra</i> as a study model to apply an analytical approach for extracting and quantifying colour proportions and patterns variation using the recently developed R packages <i>patternize</i> and <i>recolorize</i> to precisely describe and compare colour distribution at both taxonomic and habitat levels. We first assessed the potential application of this workflow in taxonomic studies by examining its accuracy and sensitivity in differentiating morphs, using <i>S. s. bernardezi</i> and <i>S. s. gallaica</i> subspecies. Subsequently, we applied the same analytical approach to compare colour and colour pattern shifts among population of <i>S. s. bernardezi</i> within an urban–forest system. Our results demonstrated that this methodological workflow effectively detects differences in colour patterns at the taxonomic and habitat levels, confirming its utility in different fields, from systematics to eco-evolutionary studies. Furthermore, our results revealed an increased prevalence of melanistic colouration and a less homogeneous colour pattern within urban settings, contributing to the limited number of studies about amphibian colouration in anthropic habitats. We outline and discuss alternative hypotheses to explain these patterns, although further investigation is necessary to address several new questions that arise from our results.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 1","pages":"34-49"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13194","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141353992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Are Bergmann's and Jordan's rules valid for a neotropical pitviper?","authors":"L. M. Servino,&nbsp;J. M. G. Ferrarini,&nbsp;C. d. C. Nogueira,&nbsp;F. E. Barbo,&nbsp;R. J. Sawaya","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13193","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13193","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Morphological variation along the spatial distribution of species has been extensively investigated in ecological studies, and several ecogeographical rules explore the relationships between morphological traits and the environment. Many morphological traits are correlated, providing an opportunity to evaluate the validity of multiple ecogeographical rules simultaneously. Bergmann's rule predicts that endothermic animals in colder locations are larger than those in warmer locations. Jordan's rule predicts that fish from colder locations have more vertebrae than those from warmer locations. We tested the validity of Bergmann's and Jordan's rules for the neotropical lancehead snake <i>Bothrops jararaca</i>. We evaluated three morphological characters of 342 specimens: number of ventral scales (proxy for vertebrae number), snout–vent length (a linear measure of body size) and stoutness (volumetric body size). We implemented spatial regressions to evaluate the variation of morphological dimensions using climatic predictors: the minimum temperature and evapotranspiration. SVL was poorly related to minimum temperature and evapotranspiration. However, stouter individuals were found in colder places with greater evapotranspiration, following Bergmann's rule and the water conservation hypothesis. Individuals in warmer locations also had a greater number of ventral scales, reversing Jordan's rule. We showed that different selective pressures act on different morphological dimensions. Although stoutness follows Bergmann's rule, its variation would arise from an energy storage demand rather than heat conservation. Also, stoutness variation along evapotranspiration gradients could represent a mechanism to avoid hydric stress in environments with considerable climatic variations. The variation in vertebrae number along temperature gradients could be related to ecological factors and foraging. We highlight that physioecological mechanisms to deal with climatic variation and ecological aspects could be identified in snakes through intraspecific analyses, contrasting with interspecific studies that can hardly detect general trends. Due to different environmental effects on body size, we shed new light on the importance of exploring multiple morphological dimensions in macroecological studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"323 4","pages":"346-355"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141350936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}