GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION WITHIN AN ISLAND: UNIVARIATE AND MULTIVARIATE CONTOURING OF SCALATION, SIZE, AND SHAPE OF THE LIZARDGALLOTIA GALLOTI

Abstract

Microgeographic variation of the vegetarian lizard Gallotia galloti within the island of Tenerife is described using univariate analysis, correlation, multiple group principal component analysis, canonical analysis, transects, and contours. The size varies locally in a mosaic pattern while head shape shows a WNW–ESE cline in the south. The scalation (scale and femoral pore counts) has two facets to its geographic variation, both of which are incongruent with the primary variation in the size and shape. The scalation shows categorical variation (stepped cline) between northern and southern populations and also a strong clinal relationship with altitude. The possible causes of this variation are considered and adaptation to current ecological conditions appears to be implicated for at least the altitudinal variation, although the pertinent factors are not obvious. It is apparent that vertebrate populations distributed across small islands do not necessarily offer the advantage of a discrete homogeneous unit for evolutionary studies but can offer the opportunity for studying microgeographic variation.