Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"Lodge-building in rodents: relationships with ecological and natural history factors","authors":"J. Qiu,&nbsp;C. Schradin","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13207","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13207","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mouse-like rodents often take cover in natural shelters or burrow underground where they build simple nests. A few species build extensive shelters above ground, called lodges, mounds or houses. Here, we present the first phylogenetically controlled comparative study on the ecological factors of habitat heterogeneity, environmental aridity and fire risk related to nesting habits in mouse-like rodents (Myomorpha, 326 genera). Twenty species from seven genera were found to build lodges, and they mainly occur in arid environments with low fire risk. Most lodge-building species (14 out of 20) belong to the pack rats (genus <i>Neotoma</i>), which in phylogeny only represent one event of evolution of lodge building and therefore limit the statistical power of the phylogenetically controlled analysis. The Bayesian phylogenetic mixed-effects models show a phylogenetic signal of 0.43 for 515 Myomorpha species. Under this moderate to strong phylogenetic relatedness, we did not find specific factors being associated to the evolution of sheltering habit in Myomorpha. We suggest studying the importance of aridity combined with low fire risk for lodge building on the species level, for example, by studying the limits of species distribution ranges depending on these factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"177-186"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142179726","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 anatomy of mastication in a toothless mammal: Morphological characteristics of the temporomandibular joint in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)","authors":"K. Hayashi,&nbsp;S. C. Nicol,&nbsp;M. Sugisaki,&nbsp;T. Amemiya","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13208","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13208","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a distinguishing feature of mammals, and in most mammals includes an articular disc that buffers the loads placed on it by mastication. The disc is well developed in mammals with significant lateral masticatory jaw movements but is absent in toothless mammals, including extant monotremes, although histological studies of developing monotremes have shown rudimentary discs that fail to mature. Platypus (<i>Ornithorhynchus anatinus</i>) grind their food between keratinous pads in the maxillae and lower jaws and are the only edentulate mammals that masticate their food. In this study, we characterize the anatomy of the TMJ of the adult platypus to see if we can reconcile the anatomy, including the absence of the articular disc, with the mandibular movements observed in video recordings. We studied the gross anatomy of the maxillofacial region and the microstructure using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histological examination. Platypuses had well-developed masticatory muscles but lacked an articular disc between the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa. The surface of the glenoid fossa was slightly concave than that of the condylar head was correspondingly slightly convex. The pre- and postglenoid processes were not well developed. Micro-CT showed dense trabecular bone in the anterior part of the condyle, where the lateral pterygoid muscle attached. Histological analysis showed that the surfaces of the condyle and glenoid fossa consisted of dense, avascular and thickened fibrous connective tissue. In addition, well-developed synovial folds were present. These anatomical characteristics are consistent with both anterior and lateral movements of the mandible, while the thick layer of connective tissue substitutes for a disc by absorbing the mechanical stresses associated with mastication. The failure of the disc primordium to develop cannot be attributed to a lack of muscle development, but the distribution of stresses in the toothless platypus jaw is likely to be different from those in a masticating eutherian.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 3","pages":"224-230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142223628","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":"Evolutionary novelty in chemical signalling is linked with chemosensory behaviour in close Liolaemus lizard species (Iguania: Liolaemidae)","authors":"M. R. Ruiz-Monachesi,&nbsp;S. Valdecantos,&nbsp;R. Gamarra-Nallar,&nbsp;D. L. Moreno Azócar,&nbsp;M. Pueta,&nbsp;G. Perotti,&nbsp;F. B. Cruz","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13206","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Evolutionary changes, associated with the gain or loss of traits, can occur in signal-emitting and signal-detecting organs. Related functionality generally accompanies these changes; however, in some cases there are mismatches and evolutionary innovations do not show an indication of functional advantages. Due to this, the relationship between evolutionary changes and the functionality of sensory organs remains unclear. Lizard species belonging to <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus</i> section present fast evolutionary state transitions associated with the gain or loss of precloacal pores (chemical signalling glands). In this group, precloacal pores configuration includes species where only males have pores (<i>Liolaemus attenboroughi</i>-ancestral state), where both sexes lack of them (<i>L. kolengh</i> male-loss), and species where both sexes have pores (<i>L. zullyae</i>, representing a female-gain). Here, we test the relationships between evolutionary changes of signal-emitting glands with different chemical and visual behaviours. We conducted behavioural trials in three species belonging to the <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus</i> section: <i>L. attenboroughi</i>, <i>L. kolengh</i>, and <i>L. zullyae</i>. We measured individuals' chemical and visual responses to different social scents and to conspecific visual stimuli. Results showed the presence of different social scents recognition ability in both male-only and female-gain species, whereas male-loss species showed no behavioural differences among the chemical trials. Lizards exhibited few responses in the visual trials, although the species with pores used chemo-sensorial sense in the visual trials, while male-loss species showed differences in visual displays in the presence of conspecific visual stimuli. These results suggest a link between evolutionary novelties of chemical secretory glands and chemical recognition.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 3","pages":"253-266"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142707816","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":"Vertebrate scavenging in Australia is shaped by a complex interplay of bioregional, seasonal and habitat factors","authors":"E. E. Spencer,&nbsp;C. R. Dickman,&nbsp;A. Greenville,&nbsp;P. Barton,&nbsp;E. G. Ritchie,&nbsp;T. M. Newsome","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13200","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13200","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Carcass scavenging by vertebrates is a critical ecosystem service that is influenced by environmental factors such as season and habitat. However, there is limited understanding of the role that these factors play in shaping scavenging patterns across different bioregions. We used camera traps to monitor vertebrate scavengers at 120 kangaroo (Family: Macropodidae) carcasses that were positioned across different seasons (warm/cool) and habitats (open/closed canopy) in three disparate desert, subalpine and temperate bioregions in Australia. Our survey identified 27 species that scavenged carcasses and revealed clear differences in scavenging patterns across the three bioregions. Carcass use was highest for feral cats, birds of prey, corvids and red foxes in the desert bioregion; for reptiles and dingoes in the temperate bioregion and for feral pigs, possums and dingoes in the subalpine bioregion. Bioregional differences in scavenger guild composition explained &gt;4.6 times more variation in scavenger guild dissimilarity than season and &gt;9.8 times more variation than habitat. Further, habitat had few effects on scavenger communities or carcass detection and use, whereas season was a strong predictor of these responses. Across bioregions, there were some general seasonal and habitat scavenging trends, with mammals and birds often using carcasses more frequently in cooler seasons and birds detecting carcasses faster in open habitat. However, there was also extensive within-bioregion seasonal variation. For example, depending on bioregion, some animals scavenged more frequently or detected carcasses faster in warmer seasons (i.e. birds and reptiles). Our results show that vertebrate scavenging is mediated by a complex interplay of environmental variables, especially seasonality, which may operate differently across bioregions. These findings have implications for understanding variability in vertebrate scavenging patterns and, in turn, functionally redundant or complementary scavenging processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"128-140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13200","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142179728","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":"Spatiotemporal plasticity of prey selection in the wolf","authors":"I. Belardi,&nbsp;J. Borkowski,&nbsp;L. Lazzeri,&nbsp;R. Banul,&nbsp;G. Pacini,&nbsp;A. Poerling,&nbsp;F. Ferretti","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13205","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13205","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Under an optimal foraging scenario, prey selection would be expected to occur when food resources are abundant. A positive frequency-dependent prey selection would elicit prey switching when the abundance of main food resources decreases, potentially favouring community resilience to the effects of intensive, selective predation on a single prey. We assessed whether a positive frequency-dependent prey selection by the wolf <i>Canis lupus</i> occurred in two areas hosting abundant populations of wild ungulates, one in northern (Słowiński National Park, Poland) and the other one in southern (Maremma Regional Park, Italy) Europe, throughout a cold semester. In Słowiński, ungulate community was dominated by red deer <i>Cervus elaphus</i> (57% availability) over wild boar <i>Sus scrofa</i> (35%) and roe deer <i>Capreolus capreolus</i> (8%); wild boar and fallow deer <i>Dama dama</i> (43–37%) were more abundant than roe deer (20%) in Maremma. In both areas, wolf diet was dominated by wild ungulates, with a major use of red deer in Słowiński and wild boar in Maremma. Prey selection occurred in both areas, and it was addressed towards the most abundant prey in Słowiński, that is, the red deer, but only towards the wild boar in Maremma, where the fallow deer was used according to availability. In Slowinski, high red deer density may have driven wolf prey selection, while the shifting of activity rhythms of the fallow deer in the Maremma as antipredator response to wolf presence may have reduced predation. Despite its comparable densities between the two areas, the wild boar was selected in Maremma and under-used in Słowiński. Results provide partial support to positive frequency-dependent selection, emphasising the spatiotemporal plasticity of wolf–prey relationships. The relative role of prey density and other factors (e.g., antipredator behavioural responses) should be assessed at longer temporal scales.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"118-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13205","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142179729","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":"Geographic variation in developmental plasticity among populations of the canyon treefrog in response to temperature and pond-drying","authors":"C. I. Hernández-Herrera,&nbsp;H. A. Pérez-Mendoza,&nbsp;J. Fornoni","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13202","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13202","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding how species respond to environmental changes, particularly in the context of climate change, is crucial for biodiversity conservation. This study focuses on the plastic responses of canyon tree frog (<i>Dryophytes arenicolor</i>) larvae to variations in temperature and pond-drying, examining potential consequences of climate change. Frog larvae serve as an excellent model due to their high responsiveness to environmental cues during development. We analysed the impact of temperature and pond-drying on morphological and life-history traits, via a common garden experiment with individuals from three distinct populations with different ecological conditions. The experiments revealed significant differences in responses among populations, indicating geographic variation in plasticity. Pond-drying treatments led to reduced survival and reduction of morphological traits and growth, challenging the assumption that tadpoles have adaptive responses to drying conditions. In contrast, temperature treatments showed variable effects, with elevated temperatures generally favouring growth rates, reducing metamorphosis time, and having population-specific morphological shifts. We emphasize the importance of considering both morphological and life-history traits, as well as geographic variation, in assessing species' vulnerability to climate change. Furthermore, the integration of environmental standardized plasticity index (ESPI) and relative distances plasticity index (RDPI) in amphibian developmental plasticity will allow to quantify and compare plastic responses among populations and even other amphibian species in which these metrics are obtained in the future. Our results underscore the complexity of phenotypic plasticity, revealing genotype–environment interactions. These findings contribute valuable insights into the potential adaptability of <i>D. arenicolor</i> populations to ongoing climate changes, highlighting the need for comprehensive inter-population studies for a more nuanced understanding of species' responses to environmental change, and suggest that certain populations may be more vulnerable to extinction or better equipped to handle climate change based on their ability to adapt to environmental change.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"103-117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13202","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141945143","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":"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}