US EPA

7424015 

Journal Article 

Reproductive Biology of Lizards from Patagonia, Argentina: Physiological and Behavioral Adaptations to Cold and Harsh Environments 

Boretto, JM; Fernández, JB; Cabezas-Cartes, F; Medina, MS; Ibargüengoytía, NR; , 

2020 

335-371 

10.1007/978-3-030-42752-8_12 

http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-42752-8_12
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In this chapter, we provide a detailed and integrated review of the reproductive biology and life-history traits related to reproduction of lizards that inhabit the cold and harsh environments of Patagonia, Argentina. Lizards of the genera Liolaemus, Phymaturus, and Homonota have shown distinctive life-history traits, such as the retention of eggs in the oviducts during most of embryogenesis, evolutionary transitions from oviparity to viviparity, adaptive synchronization of parturition under benign environmental conditions, signs of parental care, plasticity in the timing of reproductive events, prolonged multiennial reproductive cycles in females, interspecific variability in male reproductive cycles, and physiological mechanisms in males to synchronize with female cycles, among others. We discuss the adaptation of reproductive cycles to the energetic constraints imposed by environmental conditions of Patagonia. We focus on understanding how reproductive physiology could be affected by environmental stressors with the aim of contributing to successful conservation strategies.