Relationship between predation and maternal investment In Curly-Tailed Lizards

Abstract

The Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri) is invasive in Florida, where it has established
multiple populations. Like most animals, the species faces various environmental pressures, including predation,
which influences reproductive strategies. To test the hypothesis that a correlation exists between predation rates on
females and offspring-resource allocation, we examined specimens from 11 populations in Florida, assuming that those
with broken tails had encountered a potential predator. To quantify offspring-resource allocation, we used the number
of ovarian follicles in each female and the ratio of number to average size of the largest follicles. We predicted that those
traits would differ between lizards with and without broken tails. We did not detect the expected correlation, suggesting
that predation pressure did not affect the number or size of follicles. Consistent with other lizard species, we did find
that larger body size was correlated with a greater number of follicles.