Lipid Storage and Utilization in Reptiles

Lipids represent a biochemically efficient mechanism for storingenergy to be used at a later date for maintenance and/or reproduction.This storage and utilization at different times results in seasonalpatterns of lipid cycling. Reptiles exhibit a number of lipidcycling patterns which can be explained by seasonal patternsof food availability. Seasonality in food availability determinesthe quantity of lipids stored, when lipids are stored, and forwhat purposes these lipids are utilized. Lipid cycling patternsare in turn correlated with life histories.