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Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
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Nielsen TP, Bull CM. Effects of grazing regime on the relative body mass of the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis
). AUSTRAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Torben Peiter Nielsen
- School of Biological Sciences; Flinders University; Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
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Derne BT, Hutchinson MN, Weinstein P, Gardner MG, Halliday B. Parasite in peril? A new species of mite in the genus
Ophiomegistus
Banks (Parasitiformes: Paramegistidae) on an endangered host, the pygmy bluetongue lizard
Tiliqua adelaidensis
(Peters) (Squamata: Scincidae). AUSTRAL ECOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie T. Derne
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide 5001 South Australia Australia
| | | | - Philip Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Michael G. Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide 5001 South Australia Australia
- South Australian Museum Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Bruce Halliday
- Australian National Insect Collection CSIRO Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
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Bull CM, Gardner MG, Sih A, Spiegel O, Godfrey SS, Leu ST. Why Is Social Behavior Rare in Reptiles? Lessons From Sleepy Lizards. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Clayton J, Bull CM. The impact of sheep grazing on burrows for pygmy bluetongue lizards and on burrow digging spiders. J Zool (1987) 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Clayton
- School of Biological Sciences Flinders University Adelaide SA Australia
| | - C. M. Bull
- School of Biological Sciences Flinders University Adelaide SA Australia
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Shamiminoori L, Fenner AL, Schofield JA, Bull CM. Variation in size and condition of neonate pygmy bluetongue lizards, Tiliqua adelaidensis. T ROY SOC SOUTH AUST 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2015.1045312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Bull CM, Godfrey SS, Ebrahimi M, Fenner AL. Long and short term residence in refuge burrows by endangered pygmy bluetongue lizards. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2015. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00002984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) is an endangered species which is restricted to native grassland remnants in South Australia. Individuals live in vertical burrows with a single entrance from which they ambush invertebrate prey. We monitored marked burrows over two entire spring-summer seasons, the period when the lizards are active, and found that the population contained a mixture of dispersers that remained in a burrow briefly, and residents that occupy a burrow for the entire study period. There were more females than males among the residents and most of the burrow abandonment happened in the early spring, the time when male lizards probably move around to seek matings. Our study described burrow occupancy dynamics, and will assist the conservation management of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Michael Bull
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Mehregan Ebrahimi
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
- Department of Biology, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, Iran
| | - Aaron L. Fenner
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
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