Effects of Environmental Disturbance on Phenotypic Variation: An Integrated Assessment of Canalization, Developmental Stability, Modularity, and Allometry in Lizard Head Shape
- Lazic, Marko M.
- Carretero, Miguel A.
- Crnobrnja-Isailović, Jelka M.
- Kaliontzopoulou, Antigoni
DOIAbstract
When populations experience suboptimal conditions, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of phenotypic variation can be challenged, resulting in increased phenotypic variance. This kind of disturbance can be diagnosed by using morphometric tools to study morphological patterns at different hierarchical levels and evaluate canalization, developmental stability, integration, modularity, and allometry. We assess the effect of urbanization on phenotypic variation in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) by using geometric morphometrics to assess disturbance to head shape development. The head shapes of urban lizards were more variable and less symmetric, suggesting that urban living is more likely to distur...
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