Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>

This study examines the demographic parameters, body size, survival rates, and growth dynamics of <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i> populations in continental (Botaş, Türkiye) and insular (Dipkarpaz, Northern Cyprus) habitats to understand how ecological constraints influence life-histor...

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Main Authors: Büşra Kara, Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız, Deniz Yalçınkaya, Abdullah Altunışık
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/474
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author Büşra Kara
Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız
Deniz Yalçınkaya
Abdullah Altunışık
author_facet Büşra Kara
Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız
Deniz Yalçınkaya
Abdullah Altunışık
author_sort Büşra Kara
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the demographic parameters, body size, survival rates, and growth dynamics of <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i> populations in continental (Botaş, Türkiye) and insular (Dipkarpaz, Northern Cyprus) habitats to understand how ecological constraints influence life-history traits. By integrating skeletochronological and morphometric analyses, we identified significant interpopulation differences. The continental population exhibited broader age ranges, higher survival rates, and less restricted growth, likely due to greater resource availability. In contrast, the insular population showed life-history variations associated with limited resources, including smaller body sizes, lower survival rates, and distinct growth patterns. Sexual dimorphism was more pronounced in the insular population, with males exhibiting higher growth rates. These findings suggest that habitat size, resource availability, and isolation shape demographic and morphological traits, highlighting the evolutionary and ecological pressures in different environments. The results underscore the need for conservation strategies tailored to these unique populations, particularly in the face of environmental changes.
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series Animals
spelling doaj-art-c6af6efebf4743d5b852e4c6bb97fdcb2025-08-20T02:44:47ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115447410.3390/ani15040474Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>Büşra Kara0Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız1Deniz Yalçınkaya2Abdullah Altunışık3Biology Department, The Institute of Graduate Studies, University of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Rize 53100, TürkiyeZoology Section, Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Adıyaman University, Adıyaman 02040, TürkiyeMedical Laboratory Techniques Program, Department of Medical Services and Imaging, Vocational School, Toros University, Mersin 33140, TürkiyeBiology Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Rize 53100, TürkiyeThis study examines the demographic parameters, body size, survival rates, and growth dynamics of <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i> populations in continental (Botaş, Türkiye) and insular (Dipkarpaz, Northern Cyprus) habitats to understand how ecological constraints influence life-history traits. By integrating skeletochronological and morphometric analyses, we identified significant interpopulation differences. The continental population exhibited broader age ranges, higher survival rates, and less restricted growth, likely due to greater resource availability. In contrast, the insular population showed life-history variations associated with limited resources, including smaller body sizes, lower survival rates, and distinct growth patterns. Sexual dimorphism was more pronounced in the insular population, with males exhibiting higher growth rates. These findings suggest that habitat size, resource availability, and isolation shape demographic and morphological traits, highlighting the evolutionary and ecological pressures in different environments. The results underscore the need for conservation strategies tailored to these unique populations, particularly in the face of environmental changes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/474population ecologyskeletochronologysexual dimorphismislandmainlandgrowth dynamics
spellingShingle Büşra Kara
Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız
Deniz Yalçınkaya
Abdullah Altunışık
Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>
Animals
population ecology
skeletochronology
sexual dimorphism
island
mainland
growth dynamics
title Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>
title_full Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>
title_fullStr Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>
title_full_unstemmed Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>
title_short Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in <i>Acanthodactylus schreiberi</i>
title_sort continental vs insular demographic and growth patterns in i acanthodactylus schreiberi i
topic population ecology
skeletochronology
sexual dimorphism
island
mainland
growth dynamics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/474
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AT mehmetzulfuyıldız continentalvsinsulardemographicandgrowthpatternsiniacanthodactylusschreiberii
AT denizyalcınkaya continentalvsinsulardemographicandgrowthpatternsiniacanthodactylusschreiberii
AT abdullahaltunısık continentalvsinsulardemographicandgrowthpatternsiniacanthodactylusschreiberii