Altitudinal gradients and body size variation among Chinese lizards in different terrains

Spatial patterns of body size are associated with environmental factors like temperature, seasonality, precipitation, resources, and altitude, among the most relevant. Latitudinal have been extensively studied. Studies on altitudinal gradients size, however, relatively few. Besides, it is still unclear whether there variation in relationship between species, or correlations within different altitudes. China provides a good opportunity to assess because entire terrain changes from high altitude west low east, three natural stages (low: less than 660 m.a.s.l.; medium: 660–2600 high: more 2600 m.a.s.l.). Similarly, lizards distributed across wide range (from −154.31 m ~6000 above sea level). We examined 211 lizard species assessed Chinese sizes at assemblage interspecific levels. Piecewise structural equation models (pSEM) were used investigate direct indirect relationships terrains (low, medium, altitudes). Overall, we found that decreases increasing altitude. However, variations drivers stages. Altitude has both (medium stages) (high effects shaping size. established increased altitudes medium Seasonality had (positively) (negatively) stages, temperature was consistently negatively correlated identified complex probably due conditions