Data from: Phenotypic integration in response to incubation environment adaptively influences habitat choice in a tropical lizard

Phenotypic integration, in which a suite of traits change in a correlated or covarying response to shifts in environmental conditions, may enhance an organism’s fitness. In skinks, rocky environments select for longer limbs and rapid running and climbing. We examined whether differences in nest temperature coincident with specific habitats caused phenotypically integrated effects on morphology, locomotor performance, and behavior in the skink Carlia longipes. Specifically, we determined whether microhabitat choices were integrated with adaptive morphology for each habitat. Using a split-clutch design, we incubated eggs at thermal regimes that mimicked the thermal environments of nests from two habitat types (forest = warm; rocky = cool). Hatchlings from cool incubation environments had longer limbs and greater running and climbing speeds, which are likely to be beneficial for rocky habitats. In addition, individuals from cool incubation environments selected rocky microhabitats more frequently than did hatchlings from warm incubation environments. We demonstrate phenotypic integration in response to nest temperature that affected morphology, performance, and ultimately habitat selection in a way that should increase hatchling fitness.表型整合（Phenotypic integration）指一组性状会随环境条件变化发生协同或共变响应，该过程可提升生物体的适合度。在石龙子（skinks）中，多岩生境会自然选择出四肢更长、更擅长快速奔跑与攀爬的个体。我们探究了与特定生境相匹配的巢温差异，是否会对长肢滑蜥（Carlia longipes）的形态、运动表现与行为产生表型整合效应，并明确了微生境选择是否与各生境的适应性形态特征相整合。本研究采用分窝实验设计（split-clutch design），将卵置于模拟两种生境巢穴热环境的温度制度（thermal regimes）下孵化：森林生境对应温暖环境，多岩生境对应低温环境。低温孵化环境产出的幼体四肢更长、奔跑与攀爬速度更快，该性状组合对多岩生境具有适应性益处。此外，相较于高温孵化环境的幼体，低温孵化组个体更频繁地选择多岩微生境。本研究证实，巢温可诱导表型整合效应，通过影响幼体的形态、运动表现，最终作用于生境选择，进而提升幼体的适合度。