Geographic variation and adaptation in the Tasmanian metallic skink (Niveoscincus metallicus)

TL;DRAbstract

Species occupying broad geographic ranges tend to display reproductive and physiological traits that compensate for environmental constraints. This thesis examines these traits in the metallic skink, Niveoscincus metallicus. The metallic skink is the most widespread of all Tasmanian reptiles. It is a small (2-5 g) skink, found throughout Tasmania, and on most of its offshore islands, occurring from sea level to alpine elevations, in a range of habitat types. It also has a limited mainland distribution, in southern Victoria. This thesis provides a detailed examination of thermal biology and life history adaptation within this species. The thesis is presented in three main sections, each dealing with an important aspect of adaptation on a geographic scale. In the first section (Chapter 3) I examine the phylogenetic history of N. metallicus across its entire distributional range, using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (12s-16s rRNA gene) and nucleotide sequence divergence

Chat with Paper

AI Agents for this Paper