The fact that an exotic lizards have a fast sexual maturity, can be considered a strategy of an invasive species?
Dear Paulo
in fact that is one of the well-known life history traits typical of many biological invaders, along with the co-occurrence of asexual and sexual reproduction, fast growth, high productivity, effective dispersal strategies, high phenotypic plasticity and tolerance to wide ranges of environmental conditions.
There are many examples in the scientific literature e.g. see table 1 of the following paper, summarizing the general attributes of invasive aquatic species:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251179779_Predicting_the_identity_and_impact_of_future_biological_invaders_A_priority_for_aquatic_resource_management
For terrestrial invaders the pattern is pretty much the same: for instance, in brown rats males generally reach sexual maturity at just 3 months of age, females at 4.
I hope this helps, best wishes
Danilo
Article Predicting the identity and impact of future biological inva...
Dear Paulo
It is a good question and a good observation, I must say. This fact can be supplemented best with herpetology (of course lizards are in the question). Most infamous case of Boiga irregularis, the brown tree snake who wiped out some species and population of various species of birds, skinks and lizards. All these were endemic to Guam. Guamese fauna was not prepared for such a voracious snake.
Coming to sexual maturity, Boiga irregularis exploited a previously unexplored niche ! This snake got ample food, space and no competition ! All these factors drove Boiga irregularis to flourish amok !
Any traits that may be considered r-selected (take a good look at r/K selection theory, it may be a little bit old-fashion ecology but it is very clarifying) can be considered as a good strategy for an "invasive species". Early sexual maturity means reproducing faster than late sexual maturity species, therefore it is a good trait for a species to overcome a native species and thus become really invasive by establishing successfully a population in the new habitat, whether or not it competes for resources with the native species. Any ecology book will serve you as a reference, but Ricciardi & Rasmussen's (1998) paper, mentioned in Dr. Danilo Russo's answer, specifically mentions this trait and also provides references (see, e.g., their Table 1).
I agree with all in relation that early maturity is a characteristic of invasive specie
Dear Danilo Russo, Harsimran Singh, Bernardo and Jose Iannacone,
Thank you very much for answering my questions and suggested by the literature.
I have the same feeling about it, but wanted a opnion of you.
I think r-selected traits (like early maturity) have traditionally been considered traits associated with invasiveness. However, I think a more balanced view would suggest that it depends what traits early maturity is trading off with. For example, it may be a useful strategy for short term, but not long term success, if it also means lower lifetime production or early mortality.
Very interesting your comment James Byers.
I think it is something possible to study comparing sexual maturity populations in places with recent and ancient invasion. what all think?
Do you know any publication reporting this dynamic within a population?
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