Microgeographic diversity does not drive macroevolutionary divergence in bite force of the Ibiza wall lizard, Podarcis pityusensis

We investigate evolutionary scaling in form-function-environment relationships of Podarcis pityusensis, the Ibiza wall lizard. A total of 307 lizards from 11 populations were surveyed for bite force and morphology in September/October 2022 and May 2023. These measurements were analysed with ecological data including diet, physical environment, population density, and levels of aggression for each location to investigate evolutionary drivers of form and function in this species. Analysis was done across five levels of evolutionary isolation to investigate whether microgeographic variation in this species contributes towards phenotypic divergence on more macroevolutionary scales. We find general incongruence in form-function-environment relationships across scales investigated, with a lack of phenotypic divergence at the largest scale obscuring high microgeographic variation. Further, the specific environmental drivers of phenotype vary on the level of isolation investigated and on sex, with female phenotypes apparently more strongly shaped by natural selection and male phenotypes most strongly shaped by a combination of natural and sexual selection.