Life histories, demographies and population dynamics of three sympatric chameleon species (Furcifer spp.) from western Madagascar: Supplementary material
Version 3 2018-08-01, 06:06Version 3 2018-08-01, 06:06
Version 2 2018-08-01, 06:04Version 2 2018-08-01, 06:04
Version 1 2018-08-01, 06:02Version 1 2018-08-01, 06:02
journal contribution
posted on 2018-08-01, 06:06authored byFalk Eckhardt, Cornelia Kraus, Peter M. Kappeler
The life histories and population
dynamics of chameleons remain poorly known, most likely due to practical
challenges related to their cryptic nature. However, several studies have
indicated that some of these reptiles have unusually brief life histories.
Specifically, one Madagascan chameleon (Furcifer
labordi) was found to have an annual life cycle characterized by
population-wide survival of the austral winter in the egg stage; a unique life
history among tetrapods. In this study, we compare the life history of F. labordi with two locally sympatric
congeners (F. cf. nicosiai and F. oustaleti)
in Kirindy forest, western Madagascar, to determine how these species adjust
their life histories to a highly seasonal and unpredictable climate. We found
differences in lifespan, timing of hatching, growth rates, survival,
reproductive rates, adult body size, and roosting heights among all three
species. Moreover, two species exhibited relatively short lifespans: 6-9 months in F. labordi and 16-18 months in
F. cf. nicosiai. In contrast, F. oustaleti is perennial and
large-sized juveniles and adults aestivate during the dry season, but survival
rates of adults seemed relatively low. Strikingly, the annual cohort of F. labordi was already adult when
hatchlings of F. oustaleti and
subsequently F. cf. nicosiai emerged. Our study suggests
the co-existence of three different life histories with seasonal adjustment
that might be related to the partitioning of overall food availability and
contributes valuable life history data on enigmatic chameleon species.