Maximum diving duration and its influencing factors of diving lizards

Diving behavior is common among lizards for predator avoidance and foraging purposes. Understanding the factors influencing the maximum dive duration of diving lizards is crucial for comprehending their ecological strategies and survival mechanisms. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the maximum dive duration of diving lizards and their life history traits and environmental factors. The study collected diving data from a total of 52 lizard species, employed phylogenetic generalized least squares models, Markov chain Monte Carlo generalized linear mixed models, and phylogenetic path analysis methods. Our findings revealed significant correlations between maximum dive duration and key life history traits, including body weight, snout-vent length, longevity, tail length, and clutch size. Notably, after controlling for snout-vent length, tail length showed a significant negative correlation, while clutch size showed a significant positive correlation with maximum dive duration. In conclusion, our study sheds light on the crucial role of life history traits in shaping the maximum dive duration of diving lizards, offering valuable insights into their ecological adaptations and survival strategies.