The evolution of live birth in lizards
Why have lizards evolved live birth more than 70 times? A process-based model linking temperature, behavior and life history to gestation length.
The question
Lizards have independently evolved live birth (viviparity) over 70 times, making them an ideal group for understanding the selective forces behind this reproductive strategy.
Approach
I developed a process-based model that predicts the gestation length of lizards from temperature, thermoregulatory behavior and life history, and I compare its predictions with reproductive data from wild populations.
Outputs
- Garcia-Costoya et al. (2025). Live birth in lizards: A process-based model for the roles of temperature, behavior, and life-history. Evolution Letters. DOI · Code · On publications page