Thermal and reproductive biology of the lizards sceloporus occidentalis and sceloporus graciosus along an environmental and geographical gradient

The thermal environment exerts a strong influence on many aspectsof squamate life history. Environmental temperatures constrain daily activity time, fecundity, growth rate, and also influences hatchling phenotype. Cold nest temperatures can slow the development of eggs deposited in the soil, cause developmental abnormalities or result in mortality of embryos