To understand the evolutionary and ecological significance of geographic variation in life history traits, we must understand whether the patterns are induced through plastic or adaptive responses. The Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus , exhibits countergradient variation (larger body sizes, et cetera, in northern, cooler environments; presumed adaptive) in life history traits across its large geographic range. However, cogradient variation (the expected result from a plastic response, although not necessarily inconsistent with adaptation) has been suggested as a null hypothesis, especially on fine geographic scales because of relatively small environmental changes. Here we focus on life history variation on a fine geographic scale to test whether cogradient variation is exhibited even though countergradient variation is exhibited at larger scales, and if so, what mechanisms are involved in the switch. We examined north and south populations (~2° latitude between) of the S. undulatus, and the Florida Scrub Lizard, S. woodi , by measuring adult body sizes, reproduction, and hatchling body sizes over a two year period and conducting reciprocal transplants of juvenile lizards each year. Our results indicate cogradient variation (larger body size in the southern population experiencing a warmer environment) in life history traits of S. undulatus and countergradient variation, a lack of variation in adult body size, in S. woodi along the Florida peninsula. Thus, S. undulatus exhibits cogradient variation at fine geographic scales and countergradient variation at larger scales. Reciprocal transplants revealed that the larger adult body sizes in the southern population of S. undulatus could be explained by longer growth periods allowed by greater intrinsic survival. In S. woodi, the larger than expected adult body sizes in the north could be explained by faster intrinsic and extrinsic juvenile growth rates in the northern population. Because S. undulatus and S. woodi remain distinct species associated with distinct, though adjacent, habitats, we also looked for habitat-specific adaptations. The second reciprocal transplant (between species and habitats) revealed habitatspecific adaptations in juvenile growth rates, but not juvenile survival. Each native species grew faster and had a higher average probability of reaching size at maturity in their native environment than did the foreign species.

For a sexually reproducing species, the two major decisions facing all individuals are when and with whom to reproduce. When scaled to the population level, the outcome from all individual decisions determines reproductive variance, and age-class contribution to population growth rate. Both of these attributes determine a population‟s effective size (Ne), which is directly correlated with its fitness, persistence probability, and adaptability. The questions of when and with whom to reproduce, and their subsequent effects on Ne and age-at-maturity were assessed for wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations. Mating pairs were significantly size-assortative, with individual length accounting for 37% of the variation. This pattern of size assortative mate choice resulted in a reproductive strategy closer to monogamy than polygamy. Of all reproducing adults (n=157), 80% (n=126) produced only one full-sibling family, and only 6% (n= 9) contributed to more than two full-sibling families. The number of families and offspring contributed increased with length for both males and females. Comparison of the effective population size estimate to the adult census size (Nc) estimate returned an Ne:Nc ratio of 0.49 averaged over both populations. This value is nearly five times greater than the average reported across 165 (0.14) and 102 (0.10) different species. Age-at-maturity ranged from 0 to 2 years, with the proportion of age-0 and age-1 individuals maturing in a given year dependent upon growth opportunities determined primarily by environmental conditions. Mature fish were significantly larger than immature fish within an age-class, however, survival rates of mature and immature fish were similar. Furthermore, parental length did not influence offspring survival. These data suggest that the cost of early maturation is instead manifested through a reduction in egg number for females, and a reduced ability to acquire mates for males, both determined by an individual‟s size. Indeed, fecundity predicted by mean length of immature and mature fish within an age-class would result in mature fish producing an average of 38% (age-0) and 33% (age-1) more eggs than immature fish. These findings are discussed in the context of population persistence given the trend of increasing habitat fragmentation and looming climate change.

A costa do município Caiçara do Norte - RN, na região Nordeste do Brasil, é uma reconhecida área de berçário para a raia Dasyatis guttata, onde são capturados indivíduos de ambos os sexos e de diferentes tamanhos. Como as informações biológicas sobre a espécie são escassas, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a biologia reprodutiva, a dieta, e os padrões de crescimento e idade de D. guttata nesta área. Indivíduos jovens, incluindo neonatos, foram mais freqüentes nas capturas. Dasyatis guttata se reproduz durante o ano todo, mas com maior atividade reprodutiva na época mais seca. As fêmeas apresentam LD50 = 51,3 cm e os machos LD50= 43,5 cm. Com relação à dieta, os resultados caracterizam D. guttata como uma predadora generalista, que se alimenta de presas com maior disponibilidade no ambiente, e indicam que não houve diferença significativa na composição da dieta entre machos e fêmeas e nem entre épocas do ano. Porém, foi encontrada variação ontogenética, com jovens alimentando-se preferencialmente de crustáceos carídeos e os adultos preferencialmente de moluscos bivalves. A espécie também apresenta taxas de crescimento lento e sugere-se que deposição das marcas periódicas de crescimento ocorrem uma vez ao ano. Foi construída a curva de crescimento e os parâmetros estimados foram: para machos L? = 100,76 cm; k = 0,07; t0 = -2,18; e para fêmeas L? = 137,57 cm; k = 0,06; t0 = -1,86. Machos e fêmeas atingem a maturidade com cerca de cinco anos de idade. / The coast of Caiçara do Norte - RN is a known elasmobranchs nursery area, where the stingray Dasyatis guttata females and males of different sizes are captured. Since the species biological informations are scarce, the present study aimed to investigate the reproductive biology, the diet and the age and growth patterns of D. guttata in this area. Juvenile stingrays, including newborns, were more frequent in the catches. Dasyatis guttata reproduces throughout the year, but showed higher reproductive activity in the dry season. The LD50 estimated for females was 51.3 cm and for males was 43.5 cm. Regarding the diet, results characterized D. guttata as a generalist predator, that feeds upon the prey more available in the environment, and indicated that there are no significant differences between the diet composition of males and females, and between seasons of the year. However, an ontogenetic change was found, with the young feeding preferentially on crustaceans and the adults on bivalve molluscs. The species presented also a slow growth rate for both genders and it is suggested that the deposition of periodic growth marks occur once a year. The growth curve was fitted and the estimated growth parameters were: L? = 100.76 cm; k = 0.07; t0 = -2.18 for males; and L? = 137.57 cm; k = 0.06; t0 = -1.86 for females. Males and females achieve the maturity at about five years old.

A costa do município Caiçara do Norte - RN, na região Nordeste do Brasil, é uma reconhecida área de berçário para a raia Dasyatis guttata, onde são capturados indivíduos de ambos os sexos e de diferentes tamanhos. Como as informações biológicas sobre a espécie são escassas, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a biologia reprodutiva, a dieta, e os padrões de crescimento e idade de D. guttata nesta área. Indivíduos jovens, incluindo neonatos, foram mais freqüentes nas capturas. Dasyatis guttata se reproduz durante o ano todo, mas com maior atividade reprodutiva na época mais seca. As fêmeas apresentam LD50 = 51,3 cm e os machos LD50= 43,5 cm. Com relação à dieta, os resultados caracterizam D. guttata como uma predadora generalista, que se alimenta de presas com maior disponibilidade no ambiente, e indicam que não houve diferença significativa na composição da dieta entre machos e fêmeas e nem entre épocas do ano. Porém, foi encontrada variação ontogenética, com jovens alimentando-se preferencialmente de crustáceos carídeos e os adultos preferencialmente de moluscos bivalves. A espécie também apresenta taxas de crescimento lento e sugere-se que deposição das marcas periódicas de crescimento ocorrem uma vez ao ano. Foi construída a curva de crescimento e os parâmetros estimados foram: para machos L? = 100,76 cm; k = 0,07; t0 = -2,18; e para fêmeas L? = 137,57 cm; k = 0,06; t0 = -1,86. Machos e fêmeas atingem a maturidade com cerca de cinco anos de idade. / The coast of Caiçara do Norte - RN is a known elasmobranchs nursery area, where the stingray Dasyatis guttata females and males of different sizes are captured. Since the species biological informations are scarce, the present study aimed to investigate the reproductive biology, the diet and the age and growth patterns of D. guttata in this area. Juvenile stingrays, including newborns, were more frequent in the catches. Dasyatis guttata reproduces throughout the year, but showed higher reproductive activity in the dry season. The LD50 estimated for females was 51.3 cm and for males was 43.5 cm. Regarding the diet, results characterized D. guttata as a generalist predator, that feeds upon the prey more available in the environment, and indicated that there are no significant differences between the diet composition of males and females, and between seasons of the year. However, an ontogenetic change was found, with the young feeding preferentially on crustaceans and the adults on bivalve molluscs. The species presented also a slow growth rate for both genders and it is suggested that the deposition of periodic growth marks occur once a year. The growth curve was fitted and the estimated growth parameters were: L? = 100.76 cm; k = 0.07; t0 = -2.18 for males; and L? = 137.57 cm; k = 0.06; t0 = -1.86 for females. Males and females achieve the maturity at about five years old.