Fluctuating asymmetry and environmental stress in a reptile under different levels of anthropogenic disturbance

In the Monte region of Argentina, local population is causing severe habitat degradation by extracting native vegetation and domestic animal grazing. To assess whether disturbed environments have higher levels asymmetry than control environments, we examined morphological variation fluctuating in cephalic longtail whiptail lizard Aurivela longicauda (Teiidae) using a Procrustes analysis with geometric morphometry. This first study morphometry from Argentina. While there was no difference size between two were differences shape right left side lizard's head (object symmetry), being greater at sites (fluctuating asymmetry), suggesting that anthropogenic activities may act as stressors driving alterations fitness (reproduction) reptile populations. Fluctuating an excellent conservation biology environmental monitoring tool for measuring stress different organisms.