Kameri Rivers
Article Review
Urbanization and its Effect on Morphology
This study focused on the western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) that are based in Los Angeles County, California. It is known that animals can adapt to urbanization and human disturbance both behaviorally and morphologically, but the studies that have been conducted on this topic have been very narrow and noninclusive. This study focused on Sceloporus occidentalis' morphology-habitat relationship from four sites in LA county that were geographically isolated from one another and varying in urban development and microhabitat use, featuring locations that were wilderness parks and others that were highly urbanized. Body characteristics of the lizards were quantified based on limb lengths, toe lengths, and dorsal scales, while microhabitats were characterized by substrate, ambient temperature, and a lizard's perch height.
As shown in the figure above, it was discovered that lizards that were located in more urbanized areas had short limb length and fewer dorsal scales. This could be due to the change in substrate that this species is forced to utilize with urbanization. Although this species is accustomed to areas like cliffs, rocks, logs and tree trunks, these microhabitats are limited in urbanized areas. This study is important because it shows the need for broader research for urbanization and its effect on habitat use and morphology on a species basis. All species react and adapt to changes differently, and this information can be vital in determining specific responses to environmental change and have valuable conservation implications.
Article Information:
Authors: Putman, Breanna J.; Gasca, Maria; Blumstein, Daniel T.; Pauly, Gregory B.
Title: Downsizing for downtown: limb lengths, toe lengths, and scale counts decrease with urbanization in western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis)
Journal: Urban Ecosystems
1 comment:
Very interesting! How does this research relate to the article you read for Dr. McElroy's guest class and to the research profiled in Olivia's "City Lizards" post?
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