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The probable basis of the relationship between growth rate and winter mortality in the lizard Amphibolurus ornatus (Agamidae)

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Summary

At Bakers Hill, differential winter mortality of juvenile slowgrowing Amphibolurus ornatus is correlated with the incidence of frosts (Bradshaw, 1971). The present study shows that the probability an individual will spend the night in a refuge that is safe from the lethal effect of a frost is directly related to the individual's size. Thus should frosts occur during any particular winter, juvenile slow-growers, will suffer a higher mortality than juvenile fast-growers. At Tuttanning, animals do not segregate according to size, and consequently juvenile slow-growers do not suffer increased mortality during frosty winters.

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References

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Author notes

  1. P. R. Baverstock

    Present address: Laboratory Animal Services, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Frome Road, 5000, Adelaide, S.A., Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia, 6009, Nedlands, W.A., Australia

    P. R. Baverstock

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  1. P. R. Baverstock
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Baverstock, P.R. The probable basis of the relationship between growth rate and winter mortality in the lizard Amphibolurus ornatus (Agamidae). Oecologia 37, 101–107 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349996

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349996

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