Intra- and interspecific variability of digestive tract morphology in Podarcis siculus and Podarcis melisellensis lizards

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Intra- i interspecijska varijabilnost morfologije probavila kod gušterica Podarcis siculus i Podarcis melisellensis
• Author: Anja Jančula
• Mentor: Anamaria Štambuk (mentor)
• Committee member: Anamaria Štambuk (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Duje Lisičić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Dražen Balen (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Neven Bočić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Gordana Medunić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-19, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Upon translocation of five pairs of Podarcis siculus from islet Pod Kopište to islet Pod Mrčaru in
1971 newly established Pod Mrčaru population underwent significant ecological in the course of
only 35 years. The shift towards omnivory resulted in morphological changes, the appearance of
cecal valves, and a prolonged digestive tract. This thesis studies occurrence of cecal valves in
insular and mainland populations of Podarcis siculus and Podarcis melisellensis. Both species
have high within-population variability of hind gut morphology. However, the among-population
differences in frequencies of specific hind gut morphotypes was much more prominent in P.
siculus. Cecal valves were almost specific for P. siculus, which also exhibited longer digestive
tract. The occurrence of cecal valves was not particularly more prevalent in insular population, was
not sex dependent, was not correlated with the presence of nematodes in the hind gut, and did not
exhibit strong heredity. Overall, my result point to ecologically driven appearance of cecal valves
in P. siculus and, contrary to previous opinions, its wide spread occurrence across different
populations and habitats

Abstract (croatian)

Nakon translokacije pet parova Podarcis siculus guštera sa otočića Pod Kopište na otočić Pod
Mrčaru 1971. godine, novouspostavljena populacija na otočiću Pod Mrčaru pokazala je značajne
ekološke promjene nakon svega 35 godina. Prijelaz prema omnivornoj prehrani rezultirao je u
morfološkim promjenama, pojavi cekalnih valvi i produljenom probavnom traktu. Ovaj diplomski
rad proučava pojavu cekalnih valvi u otočnim i kopnenim populacijama guštera Podarcis siculus i
Podarcis melisellensis. Obje vrste pokazuju visoku unutarpopulacijsku varijabilnost morfologije
cekuma. Međutim, razlike između populacija u frekvenciji specifičnih morfotipova cekuma bile su
izraženije kod vrste P. siculus. Cekalni valvi su bili gotovo specifični za vrstu P. siculus, koja
također ima i duži probavni trakt. Pojava cekalnih valvi nije bila izraženija kod otočnih populacija,
nije ovisila o spolu, nije bila povezana s prisutnošću oblića u cekumu i nije pokazala visoku
nasljednost. Dakle, moji rezultati ukazuju na ekološki uvjetovanu pojavu cekalnih valvi kod vrste
P. siculus i, suprotno prethodnim mišljenjima, njihovu široku rasprostranjenost među različitim
populacijama i staništima.

• Keywords: cecal valves; omnivory; plasticity; lacertids; Italian wall lizard; Dalmatian wall lizard
• Keywords (croatian): cekalni valvi; omnivorna prehrana; plastičnost; lacertidi; primorska gušterica; dalmatinska gušterica
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:845032
• Study programme: Title: Enviromental Sciences; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra struke znanosti o okolišu (magistar/magistra struke znanosti o okolišu)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2025-09-19
• Created on: 2023-11-15 13:37:55